Merton Sylvan Wade

Merton Sylvan Wade, 89, of Enterprise, died Feb. 19 of natural causes in Phoenix, Ariz. Memorial services will begin at 11 a.m. June 11 at the Lostine cemetery..

He was born Oct. 2, 1921, to Sylvia Applegate Wade and Harry S. Wade in Enterprise and lived in Wallowa County his entire life.

Merton was a 32nd degree Mason. He was a longtime member of the Elks Lodge and Al Kader Shrine. He was named Outstanding Young Farmer Of The Year in 1957. He also served on the Enterprise School Board, was Soil Conservation Man of the Year in 1969, director of the Wallowa County Grain Growers and a member of the Western Angus Association.

He married Bethel McCrae June 4, 1940, at the Wade Ranch. Merton and Bethel were married for 67 years until Bethel's death in 2007. Together they worked to build a successful ranch and farming operation near Lostine. The Wade Ranch was homesteaded in 1874 by his grandfather, Samuel Wade. The ranch is still in operation today by his son, Sam Wade.

He enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. Merton loved hunting for deer, elk and grouse. He was an avid fisherman and enjoyed picking huckleberries and mushrooms. After retiring, he enjoyed spending winters in Yuma, Ariz., and falls in Garibaldi, salmon fishing with family.

He is survived by their four children, Sharon (Wade) McCadden, Sam Wade and his wife, Margaret, Jennie (Wade) Dahl and her husband, Phil, and Mary (Wade) Liese and her husband, Ron.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Sylvia Wade; brother, Reed Wade; wife, Bethel; and grandson, Robert Wergen.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Shrine Hospital or Wallowa County Care Center.

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