MERLE BEAM PARKE

Merle Beam Parke was born in Long Beach, Los Angeles County, California on 9 Nov 1919, to Arthur C. and Floss (Beam) Parke. His siblings were: Kenneth, Ingersoll, and Sydney.

His parents were born in New York and left for California after Sydney's birth. It is believed his parents were killed in an auto accident around 1930 as Merle and his brother Sydney Reed were listed as wards of Burr and Elma Brown and Elma's obituary lists her as their foster mother.

Merle served in the U.S. Navy during WWII. He met his future wife, Eleanor Fabri, while on duty near Yerington, Nevada. They were married 28 May 1946 in Yerington. They settled in Long Beach, CA and Merle purchased and sold boats for Jerry's Boat Sales. After a few years, they joined a partnership with Eleanor's brothers and purchased Sun Harbor Boat Marina in San Diego where they lived for many years. After Sun Harbor was sold, Merle and Eleanor started Merle B. Parke Yacht and Ship Brokers which they managed until retirement.

Following retirement, they returned to Yerington, Nevada. Merle passed away on 2 Dec 2001, age 82, at Washoe Medical Center, in Reno, Nevada

Submitted by: Pat Fabri, Phoenix 5/27/2013