Merrill Hayden Newman

Merrill Hayden Newman, age 94, of Beaverton, Oregon passed away on Sunday, October 8, 2023.

Military Honors and graveside service will occur Thursday, October 19, 2023 10:00 AM at Willamette National Cemetery, 11800 SE Mt Scott Blvd, Portland, OR 97236.

Please arrive at 9:30 for the Procession to the committal Shelter

Merrill was born in Tillamook, Oregon on November 29th, 1928 to James Harold and Valeria Faye Newman. He was raised in Tillamook with his three sisters, Osa Maud, May Marie, and Evelyn Faye. After graduating from Tillamook High School in 1946, he enlisted in the Marine Corps and served for a year. Then as a reservist, in 1947 he enrolled at Oregon State with the objective of becoming a veterinarian, and worked summers at Crater Lake with the Forest Service scouting the horizon for wildfires from the lookout tower. Merrill also sang with fellow “forest rangers” by night in the lodge and it was there that he fell in love with a beautiful redhead who played the piano for guests in the evening and worked in the gift shop by day.

In October 1950, during his senior year in college, he was recalled to active duty and a year later, after officer training, was deployed to Korea – arriving on an icy day in November which happened to be the Marine Corps’ birthday. For his service in Korea, he received a Silver Star for “outstanding leadership, courageous initiative and steadfast devotion to duty” and “served to inspire all who observed him and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.” Yet Merrill always considered that he was “a common soldier like most everyone else”. He was discharged to the Marine Corp Reserves in May 1952 and began his senior year in the fall at Oregon State, serving as president of the Beta Pi chapter of Sigma Chi Fraternity. He completed his degree in science in May 1953. That summer, he married the love of his life, the beautiful redhead, Elizabeth Ann Waddell of Lebanon, Oregon.

After a year of graduate school at the University of Oregon (where his young bride had also completed her degree, in music and education) they moved to Portland, bought a house on the GI bill, started their jobs as a nursery school teacher and operations manager for Western Transportation Company – the tug and barge company operating on the Columbia River – and had four children, Rebecca, Mark, Sarah, and Matthew. Tragically, this period of Dad’s life ended after 14 years of marriage when his wife (our mother) died of cancer at the age of 37. Shortly thereafter, he moved his four young children to Astoria and began a new job with Western Transportation.

In 1969, he married Marthanne Stewart Shick, a neighbor and friend from Beaverton and a mother of three young boys, George, Sam, and Rob – thus beginning a new chapter in his life with a blended and boisterous family of nine. He moved his family to Portland and began a new job as vice president of Western Transportation. During 26 years of marriage, Dad and Martha (Mom) raised seven children, put them all through college and despite busy jobs never missed a game, a match, an event, a parent/teacher meeting or father/daughter weekend. Their lives revolved around their children and later, their grandchildren. When they began a life as empty nesters, they had time to themselves and had so much fun. They joined a square dance club, learned to cross country ski; they would hike and visit new places frequently. Additionally, they regularly attended church services at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in Beaverton. But, very sadly, in 1995 Martha died suddenly, leaving Dad a widower for a second time.

Following this new tragedy, he found the strength to begin another chapter of his life. He traveled throughout France (where his daughter Rebecca lives) and learned to fly fish, going on expeditions in Argentina and Russia. He also started up the piano lessons he’d stopped at a young age. Dad had always wanted to hike the Pacific Crest Trail and in his 70s began to do that. For the next decade he went on frequent hikes on that trail, covering parts of Washington and California and the entire state of Oregon. He received the “All Oregon Award” in 2008 when he was 80 and continued to hike with the Trails Club of Oregon. After hanging up his hiking boots in his early 80s, he returned to one of his favorite hobbies – wood working – and built beautiful custom-designed furniture, including toys for his seven grandchildren and, eventually, great grandchildren.

Dad was not to remain living alone. In 1997, he married Dianne Elliot, a widow with two grown sons, Cameron and Chip. They shared 11 years together before her death after a short illness in 2008. He managed to find solace in his outdoor activities, including frequent family trips doing his favorite things such as hiking in the Cascades, camping at the beach, or going to favorite places in the Wallowa and the Steens mountains. He loved broad sweeping vistas and mountain trails, and treasured his self-sufficiency and the freedom to travel the open road.

Another chance at happiness occurred when Dad met Nonie Hendrickson in 2010 and they became soulmates. They shared meals, morning walks and morning coffee, and traveled frequently together in an RV trailer. They happily hosted many fun family gatherings. Nonie’s son, daughter, and two grandchildren became part of our family. By this time Dad had become a great grandfather to eight and once again excelled in the role. When Nonie was taken from him in 2019, he carried on despite his grief. In fact when asked, he said that he didn’t feel sorry for himself, but rather lucky to have loved four exceptional women. That he did and he was loved dearly by them in return.

Dad appeared unstoppable, still driving a big truck until several months ago. He traveled to Eastern Oregon to visit his high school buddy and his wife, Norm and Marolyn Poole, and was planning to drive to the National Parks in Utah. As recently as last summer, he exclaimed that he “wasn’t that old.” But despite his incredible resilience and grit, he succumbed to cancer.

His enduring legacy will be the example he showed us of courage on many levels, a curious and active life, his dedication to his country and his family. His was a life well lived and full of love.

Rebecca, Mark, Sarah, and Matt

In lieu of flowers the family requests that remembrances be made in the form of contributions to their favorite charity… or to:

Patriot Guard Riders, Oregon Chapter, PDX Captain David CARVEY 562.229.8095, 65000 E. Hwy 26 Unit #16, Welches, OR 97067

and or to: Bagpiper John Courtney, PO Box 1264, Gresham, OR 97030

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.batemancarrollfunerals.com for the Newman family.