Obituary of Merle M. Blevins

Merle Martin Blevins Merle Martin Blevins, age 82, died on January 8, 2009 at Stevens Hospital in Edmonds . He was born on October 15, 1926 in New Rockford, North Dakota to Winsor Glenn and Elva Grace Blevins. Merle graduated from Edmonds High School and Washington State University . He was a private in the army as a paratrooper in the 82 nd Airborne and won the Golden Gloves at Fort Bragg . He was also a Past President of the Sons of Norway. Merle was a teacher and basketball coach at Valley High School , Edmonds High School and Mountlake Terrace High School . He created the carpentry program for the Edmonds School District . As the head coach, Merle led Mountlake Terrace High School to win the State AAA High School Basketball Championship in 1977. He retired that year. Merle was inducted into the Edmonds School District Hall of Fame in 2001. Merle also had construction businesses, B K Construction and T MB Construction. Merle is survived by his wife LaTrilla Tillie Blevins of Edmonds; children Merle Winsor (Nancy) Blevins, and Debbie (Jeff) MacLennan; grandchildren Martin, Michael, Jennifer and Andrew; and siblings Vesta Wiley, Gerald Blevins, Donald Blevins, Dean Blevins, and Fern Thompson. He was preceded in death by his sisters Wilna Dejausserand and Viola Martinson, brother Ken Blevins; and sons Gaylen Dean Blevins and Donald Arthur Blevins. Funeral Services will be Thursday, January 15 at 12:30 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church , 6215 196 th St. SW , Lynnwood . Viewing will be at 11:30 a.m. at the church. Interment at Restlawn Memorial Park . Memorials may be given to Trinity Lutheran Living Water Mission Project href=http://www.trinitylutheranchurch.com/programs/livingwater.asp www.trinitylutheranchurch.com/programs/livingwater.asp