Merle Willis Nash

Merle Willis Nash, of Johnstown, formerly of Steamboat Springs, passed away December 21, 2013 at Good Samaritan, Loveland Village. He was 83 years old.


Mr. Nash was born August 20, 1930, in Cañon City Colorado to Willis and Bessie (Allen) Nash. He attended elementary school in Cañon City and spent his summers at his grandparent's ranch in Crested Butte, CO. His family moved to Denver where he attended Skinner Junior High and graduated from North High School. He participated in athletics, band, and Boy Scouts.


After graduating he attended the University of Denver for a short time and worked for Cheeley Camp in Estes Park, guiding pack trips into Rocky Mountain National Park. This is where he met Frances Wells, who also worked for Cheeley Camp, and they were married August 6, 1951.


Mr. Nash was in the Air Force Reserves and also attended Colorado State University before accepting a position as a diesel mechanic for McCoy Company of Denver. He was transferred to Steamboat Springs in 1956 to work as a mechanic for the Edna Coal Mine. He deeply loved his new community and became active with the Winter Sports Club and served on the town council. He also enjoyed skiing, fishing, and hunting.


Mr. Nash's father, Willis Nash, and he assisted with the clearing of slopes and the installation of the first chair lifts and the first gondola on what was then known as Storm Mountain, now the Steamboat Ski Area. After the ski area opened he served as assistant general manager for a short time, was a ski instructor and a member of the National Ski Patrol.


After leaving the ski area, he managed Siecrist Road Construction, then accepted a position with TIC. He transferred to the Saler Marine Division of TIC in Savannah Georgia and retired from there in 1993.


Mr. Nash is survived by his wife Frances, of Johnstown; daughter Terry (Scott) Larrick of Johnstown; Allen Nash of Conifer; and Renee (Joe) Sorholus of Hayden; grandchildren, Jerome (Cindy) Nash of Greeley; Travis (Anne) Nash of Palisade; Shawn (Erin) Nash of Maricopa, AZ; Trever Nash of Fort Worth Texas; and Tana Kersting of Laramie, WY, step-grandchildren Nicole Posse of Fort Worth, TX; Jason (Lyndy) Nowell, of OK; Justin Nowell of Fort Worth, TX; Jerri (Brian) Shaw of Two Buttes, CO; and eleven great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, Dec. 28, 2013 at 2pm at the Spiritual Life Center at Good Samaritan Society, Loveland Village. Another memorial will be held in Steamboat Springs this coming summer.