Obituary of Merl Dabbs

Merl Edward Dabbs was born to Henry and Cora Dabbs at his grandparents (Frank & Laura Mitchell) house on April 25, 1923. He had one older brother, Don and a younger sister, Mary. He worked with his parents on the family farm and for various threshing crews until 1951 when he moved to Edmonton to work for the Alberta Liquor Control Board. On April 23, 1955 he married his soul mate, Thelma Skappel (Richardson). He often said he didn't know what would have happened to him if she hadn't come into his life. As a child he had a speech impediment. After he and Thelma got together it improved. Thelma had a small house which they lived in and later tore down and built a new house on the lot. Many good times were had with Thelma's brothers Lloyd and Albert and their families as they all lived in Jasper Place. An infant daughter, Linda Hazel, was stillborn in 1957. Their chosen daughter, Victoria Anne, joined the family and in 1959 their son, Howard Merl arrived. The family moved to Forestburg in 1965, taking over the farm from Merl's parents. Merl also worked in the coal system and later as a custodian at the Battle River Power Plant until his retirement in 1989. In 1979 he and Howard formed Dabbs Trucking, gravel and hi-way hauling. Merl was very proud of this accomplishment. In 2001, Merl and Thelma moved into Forestburg where he resided until 2010 when he moved back to his farm with Howard. Poor health forced him to move into Bashaw Valley Lodge in January 2011 and then in July 2012, after suffering a heart attack, Merl moved to Galahad Care Center. Merl was a quiet man, with slow mannerisms. He was kind and giving. He worked hard all his working days. He loved his wife, his children and his grandchildren and would have done anything he could for them. He was also very stubborn and when he believed in something, nothing would change his mind. He had a sense of humor, which surprised most of us at unsuspecting times. He admired the brave men and women who fought in World War 1 and 2. His cousin, Howard Earl Dabbs was killed in action on December 7, 1942 along with his whole Lancaster crew. In 2001 a monument was dedicated to Howard at Dabbs Lake in northern Alberta. Merl thoroughly enjoyed the quad ride into Dabbs Lake with Tom and Darlyne and other family members and friends, prior to the dedication. In earlier years Merl enjoyed hunting, both birds and big game. He liked to tell you of his hunting adventures. He enjoyed fishing trips too. The family enjoyed camping, the first camping unit a homemade wooden trailer Merl built. Merl and Tom would sleep in the back of the truck under the canopy and Thelma, her mother, Vicky and Howard had the trailer. He once told of a trip he and Don, Hazel and Mary took to Banff in the forties. Only 2 people could ride in the cab of the truck and the other two rode in the back of the truck, which had stock racks covered with a tarp. He said you looked like you had been working a summer fallow field when you stepped out of the back of the truck. The highways were not paved at the time. Can you imagine thinking that was a vacation? Merl and Thelma enjoyed other trips to places like Spokane, Wisconsin, Saskatchewan, Okanagan, Peace River Country, Salt Spring Island and New Zealand. Merl is survived by his daughter, Vicky and her fiancé Irvin Roth, his son Howard, six grandchildren, Karen and her partner Greg Whitlow, Kyla and Derek Wirth, Barry Dabbs and his partner Jen Lamb, Tanya Wilson, Rob Dabbs, and Mallory Dabbs and her partner Chris Goddu, five great grandchildren, Cheyanne and Desiree Dabbs, Skye and Rockford Whitlow and Chloe Wilson. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. Merl was predeceased by his parents, Henry and Cora, his loving wife Thelma, his brother Don, sister-in-law Hazel, sister Mary, brother-in-law Melvin Muncy and infant daughter Linda.