The Haxtun-Fleming Herald - What can we reason but from what we know? -Alexander Pope

Merl Lee Larson passed away at home on April 4, 2022 in Petaluma, Calif., surrounded by his loving family. He had been dealing with dementia and declining health for several years and had recently moved from Yuba City, Calif. to Petaluma to be closer to family members.

Merl was born to John and Lucile Larson in Haxtun on Aug. 7, 1939. In 1957 Merl graduated from Haxtun High School after serving as class president for all four years of high school. Merl played basketball, football and was a pole vaulter on the track team. He was an accomplished piano player at an early age as well as a trombone player in the school band. Merl loved music and listened to it a great deal.

Merl and Pat were childhood sweethearts having met in second and third grade. Their first official date was a Boy Scout dance in the fifth grade. After completing high school and two years of junior college they were married in Christ the King Catholic Church in Haxtun on Sept. 3, 1960. Then they were off to school together.

Merl graduated from Colorado State University at Fort Collins in 1962 with a Bachelor of Science degree with a Major in Civil Engineering. He was recruited in college by the California Department of Transportation for a job in District 3 in Marysville, Calif., with the Division of Highways which is now known as Caltrans. Merl and Pat left Colorado in their 1955 black and white Oldsmobile to begin their careers in California in June of 1962.

Merl worked for the next 25 years in highway planning, design and construction for Caltrans. He continued to study, take tests and work in different capacities for Caltrans as he moved upward. He became a Registered Professional Civil Engineer.

A few years down the road he took a position in Caltrans Headquarters in Sacramento, Calif., where he became a Senior Transportation Engineer. He was responsible for administering Local Federal Aid Programs for nine counties in the San Francisco Bay area. He retired after working a total of 39 years for the California Department of Transportation.

Activities that Merl enjoyed were: being a doting Papa to eight grandchildren, playing golf, dancing to good music, being a member of the Franklin Dance Club, dinner dances at the Moose, being a great shopper and sharp dresser, maintaining his glorious hair from the fifties crew cut all the way through his silver fox years, listening and dancing to rock 'n' roll music and "Waylon and Willie" songs, exercising, eating pizza with family and friends, water skiing on the river, hitting tennis balls with Penny, boating and houseboating on Lake Oroville, playing cards - especially poker with his buddies, cool looking and sounding cars, taking motorcycle rides, eating cookies and ice cream, grilling outdoors, dining out with friends, football pool with co-workers, lunches with colleagues, softball games with friends, picnic days with Caltrans families, helping with projects around St. Isidore Church and School and attending weekly Mass, taking care of the family home, cars and yard, coaching Sandy's Bobby Sox teams including the team when they went to Buena Park, Calif., for the State Championship and many summer family road trips back to Colorado to keep in touch with family and friends - always big, memorable events.

Merl was a genuine, honest, hard-working, and loving family man and he will be greatly missed. If you knew Merl, you liked Merl!

Merl is survived by his wife of 61 years Pat (Potter) Larson; daughter Penny Lee Larson and family Rose, Christopher, David and Patrick Fowlie; daughter Sandy Rose Miguel, husband Joseph and family Mary, Noah, Gabriel and Grace Miguel; brother Donald Larson, Hawaii; sister Gleola Harden in Missouri, a sister Twila Kuntz, Colorado; several nieces and nephews. He will also be greatly missed by his beloved white Chihuahua, Lola, who was his constant companion.

Merl is preceded in death by the couple's twin sons Ty Patrick and Tim Kelly who were born and died in 1967.

A funeral mass was held on June 24 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Marysville, Calif. His final resting place will be a private inurnment burial at Sutter Cemetery in Sutter.

In lieu of flowers, a donation to St. Vincent De Paul Society, 222 Clark Ave., Yuba City, CA 95991 would be appreciated.