Merle Dean Lloyd

Merle D. Lloyd 96 of Corvallis passed away Sunday, October 18th at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula.

Merle was born April 23, 1919 in Clifton, CO to Sidney B. Lloyd and Jessie Irene Kruzen Lloyd.  His early childhood years were spent in the Clifton, Mesa and Palisade, CO area. He graduated from Mesa Colorado HS in 1937, Salutatorian of his class.  In Mesa, after high school, he went to Eugene, Oregon and was enrolled in the Lane County Vocational School where he was employed by Boeing Aircraft from Seattle to work in their experimental research lab basement.

He enlisted in the US Army/A Air Force in 1943 and was stationed in Sudbury, Suffolk County, England in the European Theatre of Operations.  He was in the 486th bomber group of the 3rd wing of the 8th air command stationed at Sudbury, Suffolk County, England. During his military service, he was the radio operator on the lead bomber squadron for 25 missions over Western Europe.  On D-Day, 6/6/44, his squadron made 3 flights over the war zone returning home with the last bombs still intact as they could not see where they were bombing.  After his discharge from the military he returned to Mesa where he was engaged in timber, ranching and trucking.

On December 27, 1952 he was married to Anna Ukele; and to this union were borne six children: Phillip (Joy) Corvallis, Sidney (Caroline) Tucson, AZ.; Donna Cronister (Kenneth), Victor, MT; Donald (Kathy), Corvallis, MT; Steven (Monica), Hot Springs, MT and James (Phay), Clancy, MT; all of whom survived him.

After his marriage, Merle and Anna moved to Slick Rock, CO where he was engaged in the Colorado Plateau Uranium industry as both an engineer and contractor. In 1958 he moved with his family to Hamilton, MT where he was engaged in ranching, mining and custom machinery work.  He was a licensed MT real estate broker for 35 years.

Merle was a past Worshipful Master of Ionic Lodge 38 A.F. & A.M. He was also a past patron of Leona Chapter 31 O.E.S. in Hamilton, MT.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Sidney and Jessie Irene, three brothers and one step sister. He is also survived by nine grandchildren, seven great grand children, numerous step grand children and great grand children and several grand nephews and their families.

At Mr. Lloyds request there will be no public services.

The family suggests memorials to the Bitterroot Animal Shelter.