06/25/2026
The Union County Museum Society Board of Directors, volunteers and members mourn the passing of our friend Merle Miller, in mid-June. Merle and his wife Pat served on the board of directors for many years and were volunteer museum hosts, as well. Merle was passionate about history and enjoyed demonstrating Dutch-0ven cooking at museum events.
Merle was born December 3,1930, at Burns, Oregon, and raised on a ranch at Drewsey, east of Burns. He graduated from Crane High School in 1949, and from the Oregon Institute of Technology in 1951, with a degree in watchmaking. He passed the Oregon State Examination as a Watchmaker and spent two years in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War as a Watchmaker, ensuring all timepieces during battle were synchronized. Following his service, he became a Certified Master Watchmaker. After working for 16 years as a watchmaker in Burns and La Grande, he worked for 22 years with the Oregon State Parks and Recreation before retiring.
Merle drew from his own collection of clocks and watches, as well as the museum’s, to create an exhibit at the museum in 2021. The Watchmaker’s display consists of the watchmaker’s bench and lathe that was Harold Laurence’s of Laurence’s Jewelry Store in La Grande. Clocks in the exhibit include a wall clock from 1760 with wooden clock works; an 1820 wall clock; an Atmos Clock that runs on atmospheric pressure and several other clocks from the Museum’s and Merle’s collections.
Merle married Patricia Seely in 1951. The couple has 4 children, living in Prineville, Drewsey, Elgin and La Grande. Our heartfelt sympathy goes to Pat and the family. Merle's memorial service takes place at the Summerville Baptist Church, Saturday, June 27, at 11 a.m.
