Merle L. Nell. For 51 years, he dedicated his time and service to his community as a proud member of the Vernon Fire Department, responding to hundreds upon hundreds of calls. Merle joined the department in 1965, when members were required to live within one mile of the station in order to hear the fire whistle from their homes. He assumed a multitude of positions as a member of the department, including fire chief in 1983, and most recently, he served as the department’s fire police captain.
Merle was serving in that capacity on Saturday, Nov. 26 when he passed away unexpectedly from cardiac arrest.