Merrell Eugene Eacker

Merrell Eugene Eacker was born in Topeka, Kansas on July 30, 1942 to Dean and Thelma Eacker. Merrell was the third of five children, Ron, Nancy, Russ and Barry. The family moved quite a lot in the early years. Their dad was involved in western music. They moved from Los Angeles to Nebraska, to Idaho, to North Hollywood to the San Diego area. They settled in El Cajon, California when Dean Eacker joined the Smokie Rogers TV Show.

Merrell was always the fastest runner in elementary school, junior high and high school. He set school records of 22’10” in the long jump. While in high school Merrell was on the varsity football team when he was a sophomore. As a senior, he led his team to the first ever winning season for El Cajon High. Merrell also made the All-San Diego Football Team. Merrell kicked 3 extra points, punted played defense as San Diego defeated the Los Angele Team. His friend, Dave Holder said it was the best game he ever saw Merrell play. Merrell graduated from El Cajon High School in 1960. He attended BYU for Liberal Arts with a track scholarship. He decided teaching was not for him, so Merrell joined the US Navy in 1962. He was stationed on the USS Oriskany CVA-34 as a corpsman. He was in the South China Sea (off the coast of Vietnam) at the start of the Vietnam War. After leaving the Navy Merrell went to Fullerton Junior College and set a new school record in the long jump of 22’10”. While in college he worked in the funeral industry to support himself. He attended LA City College for Mortuary Science to become an embalmer.and funeral director. He worked at Pacific View Memorial Park in Newport Beach for many years. He also worked for a new developing industry of prefab home building for some years. But, he went back into the funeral industry in Erie, Pennsylvania then moving to Vista, CA where he managed Allen Brothers Mortuary. It was at Allen Brothers that he met Tammy and they married in 1987 in Las Vegas. In 1989, Merrell joined Pierce Brothers Mortuaries and began a 25 year career with Pierce Brothers and Service Corporation International. Merrell worked for years at Moeller Murphy Mortuary in Santa Monica then moved to Eternal Valley Memorial Park in Santa Clarita. He managed Eternal Valley in Santa Clarita and Noble Chapel in San Fernando.

Merrell loved to pencil sketch, draw, etch, build things such as a gazebo, a Murphy bed, mirrors, a TV cabinet, a conference table for his church and work in the church food pantry. His favorite movie of all time was “Young Frankenstein” by Mel Brooks. Merrell also loved music and enjoyed singing duets of the older hymns at church with Robin Pokorski.

Merrell was preceded in death by his brother, Ron, his parents, Dean and Thelma. He is survived by his wife, Tamara (Tammy), sons, David (Lori Anne), Brett (Kimberly), sister, Nancy Roberts, brothers, Russell (Judy) and Barry (Vickie) Eacker and nieces and nephews

Merrell loved his family, his church, everyone he met and especially his Savior, Jesus.