Merle R. Hornbaker was born on September 4, 1921 in Boulder, Colorado. He was number four in a family of six born to Jess and Gertie Hornbaker. Preschool years were spent in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. Then the family moved back to the Hornbaker Homestead at Niwot, Colorado where they farmed. He attended grade school at Niwot, but went to high school in Longmont, graduating in 1939. The next two years were spent in California with his older brother and sister. Merle worked at Lockheed Aircraft Co. until the war broke out and he enlisted in the Army Air Corps. He served four and half years in the service until the war was over. He married Evanola Hurley in 1944 and they had two girls, Patricia, who lives in Marysville, Washington and Pamela in Big Lake, Alaska. After being discharged, he moved back to Niwot and took over the farming operation. He went to night school at Colorado Agriculture where he heard about homesteading in the great Columbia Basin. His name was drawn for a unit and in February of 1955, he and his family moved to Mesa, Washington and developed a farm near Eltopia. They lived there and farmed until 1980. During the 1970's he served four years as Franklin County Commissioner and retired from Franklin County where he worked as an appraiser. He was a member Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion and CHIPS. Merle married Shirley Hansen in 1986. They spent almost 30 years traveling and enjoying life together. Merle passed away on February 15, 2016 at Kadlec Regional Medical Center. He is survived by his wife, Shirley, daughters Patricia, Pamela, three stepsons, Terry, Rod and Scott Hansen, 13 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren. Graveside services will be Monday, March 7, 2016, 1:00 p.m., at Desert Lawn Memorial Park, 1401 S. Union Street, Kennewick, WA. Memorials can be made to KPD Foundation, Community Care Fund, 211 W. 6th Ave., Kennewick, WA 99336 or Operation Thank You, 612 Jefferson St., Richland, WA 99352.