Merlin Prout

Merlin Prout, 82, of La Grande, died March 19 at his home in La Grande.

Merlin was born April 6, 1927, to Jasper and Leona (Dale) Prout of Joseph.

Merlin was married six times in his 82 years. His first marriage was to Elaine Wolford. They had two sons, Donel Eugene Prout Ganna and Larry Glen Prout Ganna, both of Richland, Wash. His second marriage was to Beaulah Kennedy, and born to them was daughter, Gayla Marie Prout. The third marriage was to Betty May Jennings. The couple had a son, Jerry Lee Prout of Pullman, Wash. The fourth marriage was to Edie Meyers, and the fifth was to Jean Pranchuk of Los Angeles. Merlin's final marriage was to Rosa Brothers. All of the marriages lasted a short time.

Merlin served in the Navy and worked as a butcher in Joseph. He moved to La Grande and worked as a groundskeeper for Eastern Oregon College. In his retirement years, he mowed lawns for local businesses and managed a local trailer park for a friend, Phil Hergert. He enjoyed fishing and hunting throughout the years.

He was preceded in death by five sisters and brothers: Willard "Wick" Prout, Raymond Prout, Dorothy Prout Griffin, Gwendlene Prout Beier and Jay Prout; and a daughter, Gayla Marie Prout of Elgin.

Family members say they wish to acknowledge the life lessons they learned from Merlin: After a lifetime with pain of having siblings and not knowing who they were, Merlin's family understands how important truth is.

Lessons resulting from anger and destruction taught the family to raise their own children with love and attention. As a final tribute of respect to the spouses and mothers who shared lives with Merlin, family members request that any memorial contributions be made to Shelter From the Storm, P.O.Box 173, La Grande 97850.

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