Homer resident Dan Mershon died unexpectedly of a stroke while on vacation in Maui. He was 60 years old. Dan was born in Portland, Ore., the son of Alfred and Norma (Kent) Mershon. He attended all 12 years at Corbett, Ore., area schools, graduating in 1970. He was active in all sports, excelling in football.

Dan grew up commercial fishing on the Columbia River, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. He married his high school sweetheart Christy and together they raised two sons, Joshua and Nathan. Dan followed the fish from Corbett, to Astoria, Ore., and on to Homer, where he lived and worked for more than 30 years. He fished for salmon in Bristol Bay on the Gray Ghost, Cook Inlet on the Lady C, crab and halibut on the F/V Magnum and tendered the M/V M&M, a storied career. 

Adventure was a big part of Dan’s life. He was a pilot and a sailor taking his family on sailing trips to Hawaii, American Samoa and Tonga. Dan loved the water and was either working or playing on it at any given time. Besides windsurfing, his greatest passions were his grandkids and little dog Corky.

He is survived by his wife, Christy; son Joshua and his wife Mei; grandchildren Jonah, Micah and Hannah, all of Homer; son Nathan and his wife Chandra, of White Salmon, Wash.; sister Karen Beyer (Mark) of Tillamook, Ore.; brother Phil Mershon (Sherol) of College Place, Wash.; brother Paul Mershon (Susan) Corbett, Ore. and father-in-law John Schaffer (Judy) Sammamish, Wash. He also leaves a large extended family of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, brothers and sisters-in-law as well as many good friends. 

“We believe that being a man of faith he is in the Lord’s care, but we miss him deeply,” his family wrote.

Due to the number of family living in the Pacific Northwest, a memorial will be held at the Corbett Community Church, in Corbett, Ore., at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24, 2012, with an informal get together to be held in Homer at a later date. Cards and remembrances may be sent to the family c/o Mershon, 845 NW Kennedy Lane, White Salmon, WA 98672.