Mervyn Cressely Leathers

MERVYN CRESSLEY LEATHERS August 14, 1925 ~ November 19, 2013 "Mervyn was a caring, loving father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was an honest and honorable man where the simple things in life pleasured him most." Mervyn Cressley Leathers, 88, passed away peacefully at his home in Vancouver, WA on Nov. 19, 2013. He was born Aug. 14, 1925 in Malheur County, OR to Otto and May Leathers. Mervyn spent his early childhood in Hood River, OR, later moving to Vancouver, WA with his family. As a young boy, he spent many a summer at his maternal grandparent's homestead in Long Beach and Oysterville, WA. He graduated from the old Vancouver High School. Mervyn joined the Navy in 1943 serving in WWII until his discharge in 1945. He was stationed in Guam on a PT boat. His Naval duty was underwater demolition. While in the Navy, Mervyn began boxing and continued professionally once stateside. After military duty, another interest was acting. Mervyn acted in a number of plays at the Portland Civic Theater and he most loved his part in the play, "Harvey". Mervyn was the son of a longshoreman. And in his mid 20's, Mervyn began a lifelong career as a longshoreman retiring in 1987 from Longshoreman's Local 4 Union. He and his longshoreman buddies were always playing pranks on each other back in the day of the docks. Feeling that need to get back in the water, Mervyn took up skin diving in the mid 50's. The skin diving led to scuba diving as he joined the 20 Fathoms Club. His first salt water dive was in 1959. He loved scuba diving with his dive buddies in Hoods Canal. The deeper the dive with octopus and shark around, the better he liked it. He served on the Clark County Underwater Search & Rescue and Clark County Sheriff's Reserve for many years. He retired his diving gear in the late 70's. Mervyn was also an avid deer and elk hunter. He hunted only with family and friends that he felt were qualified. At his best, Mervyn was a marksman. He was a true lover of the outdoors and this is where he was happiest. Mervyn leaves behind his daughters, Kerry Leathers- Ottoboni (Carlo) and Kit Spring; granddaughters, Molly Harnett (Joe) and Jessica Chandler (Chris); great-grandsons, Joseph Harnett and Christiaan Chandler; great-granddaughter, Cresly Chandler; sister, Donna Purvis- Taylor of Yuma, AZ; nephews, Russell and Scott Purvis; and companion, Alice Cameron. He was preceded in death by his wife, Rae, of 42 years. Mervyn desired a simple passing to rest in a place of peace where he loved to hunt. The family will honor him with a Celebration of Life in August 2014 near Sunset Ranger Station close to the huckleberry fields. Notice will be given prior to the date for friends to join us. Donations in memory of Mervyn Leathers may be made to the University of Minot Student Scholarship in Minot, ND, the International Longshoremen and Warehouse Union Local 4 Scholarship Fund in Vancouver, WA, or the Cascade Pacific Counsel of the Boy Scouts of America. - See more at: http://obits.columbian.com/obituaries/columbian/obituary.aspx?n=mervyn-cressley-leathers&pid=168148707&fhid=5644#sthash.hyEf7HlW.dpuf

Mervyn Cressely Leathers

August 14, 1925 - November 19, 2013