Merle Elizabeth Shanks

Long Beach resident Merle E. Shanks, 89, died in a local care center on April 9, 2009. The daughter of Charles and Ethel (Price) Manning, she was born in Portland, Oregon on November 12, 1919. Merle grew up in Vancouver, Washington where she attended Shumway Junior High School and Vancouver High School. In 1987 she completed her education by earning her GED. At age 17 she married Roy Shanks in Vancouver. Merle became a devoted wife, mother, and homemaker. She helped support her family by working as a bookkeeper. In 1955 she and Roy purchased Vancouver Boat Harbor and they operated the moorage until 1971 when they moved to Long Beach. Roy died in 1986. After moving to the Peninsula Merle operated the Port Beanery in Ilwaco until retiring in 1983. For over 20 years Merle served as treasurer for Pacific Aging Council Endeavors in Ilwaco. In past years she was a member of Ocean Beach Presbyterian Church of Seaview where she was active in the Women's Circle. Merle enjoyed crocheting, gardening, sewing, reading and traveling. Her family will remember her as a loving mother, grandmother and friend to many. Survivors include her daughter Ann Reese of Long Beach; daughters and son-in-laws Janice and James Frahm of Vancouver, and Diane and Michael Norman of Tumwater, WA; sons and daughter-in-laws Don and Sandra Shanks of Ilwaco, and Terry and Marie Shanks of Long Beach; brother Robert (Bonnie) Manning of Arizona; 13 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a son Roy Nelson Shanks. Merle had requested that no service be held. She will be buried next to Roy at Ilwaco Cemetery. Her family requested any memorials be made to either PACE, PO Box 579, Ilwaco, WA 98624 or the South Pacific County Humane Society, PO Box 101, Long Beach, WA 98631. The guestbook is available at www.penttiaschapel.com.