Walter "Lawrence" Merril passed away very peacefully at home on Oct. 2, 2025, at age 93, with his wife of 73 years holding his hand.
Lawrence was born Dec. 22, 1931, in St. Louis, Missouri, to Lawrence and Lester (Withers) Merrill. He was the oldest of nine children: Ervin (Gloria) Merrill, Billie (Jerry) Barr, Ed (Wanda) Merrill, Shelba (Tommy) Carrithers, David (Judy) Merrill, Lela Forstel, Butch (Barb) Merrill, and Jim (Kerri) Merrill.
Lawrence moved to Lewis County (Doty) as a young teenager in the 1940s and called this area home ever since. He attended Pe Ell High School and was a logger by trade, working for Weyerhaeuser as a faller for 37 years. In 1952, during the Korean War, he served two years in the U.S. Army and was stationed in California and Japan.
He met his future wife at Rainbow Falls State Park. Every Sunday after church, Darlene Lusk and her niece Patricia Ratkie walked to the park to hang out. There, Darlene noticed Lawrence, and they began dating. Lawrence and Darlene were married June 14, 1952, in Centralia and later welcomed two sons, Brad and Wayde.
Lawrence’s hobbies included building houses and shops, landscaping, chopping wood, watching the Seahawks, and boating/water skiing. His biggest joys in life were his family, his home, and working on different projects around his property. He loved just being at home with his family; he will be missed.
Lawrence is survived by his wife, Darlene; sons Brad Merrill and Wayde Merrill; grandchildren Bryce (Stephanie) Merrill and Rachel (Justin) Diercks; great-grandchildren Malachi Merrill, Gracie Diercks, and Lochlan Merrill; brothers Ed (Wanda), David, and Jim (Kerri); and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. Special love to Renee Merrill, Tom Bredlau, Mark and Lorna Merrill, and foster son Tom (Phillip) Schreiner.
Lawrence was preceded in death by his father, Lawrence; mother, Lester; brothers Ervin and Butch; sisters Billie, Shelba, and Lela; brothers-in-law Jerry and Tommy; and sisters-in-law Gloria and Judy.
The family would like to give a special thanks to Pam Logalbo, Lori Moerke, and Assured Home Hospice of Centralia for all their wonderful care and support of Lawrence.
A celebration of life graveside service will be held for Lawrence at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, at the Doty-Dryad Cemetery. This will be followed by a gathering at the Doty Fire Hall.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Lawrence’s memory to Visiting Nurses Foundation for the benefit of hospice care.
