Thomas Lee Mershon

Thomas Lee Mershon was born January 5, 1945, in Bellflower, CA to James Willis and Hattie Muriel Mershon. He passed away on May 14th following several years of deteriorating health. In 1953 the family moved to a chicken egg production farm in Whatcom County, WA. Strawberries were added later. Tom was an important part of the farm, providing the muscle as his father had health issues. The family later operated a chain of laundromats across the county. While doing clean-up chores Tom often encountered Loretta Lynn who was a regular customer, carrying her baskets of laundry to her car many times. He graduated from Ferndale High School in 1963, attended WWU and then went to Yakutat, AK for a year working as the freezer manager at a seafood processing plant. He came back to the farm and studied at Bellingham Technical School. In 1967 he started a 30-year career with the Washington Department of Highways (WSDOT). Land surveying was his favorite job, but he also served as a project inspector and as a scheduler. He worked on many major projects in the King County area including SR 167, I-90, and I-405. Tom played rugby while in high school and at WWU. He joined the Seattle Rugby Football Club and was still playing “old boys” rugby well into his 50s. In 2002 he became a Level I referee but a heart attack in 2008 took him oƯ the pitch. Tom met Christine Borte Kempf at a support group for the divorced and they married in 1990, merging their two families of Tom’s two daughters and Chris’s three teenage boys. Together they had another boy. After they both retired Tom and Chris moved to the ToledoWinlock area where she has family. Tom especially enjoyed the peace and quiet of the country after 50 years of city life. Tom is survived by his wife Christine, son David Mershon (Megan); daughter Suzanne Mershon both of Kent, WA; grandson Devon Mershon of Seattle; stepsons Tommy Kempf (Lisa) of Vashon; Robin Kempf (Terri) of Longview, WA; and Matthew Kempf (Menolly) of Eatonville, WA. Tom is also survived by his sister Mary Dunkin of Bettendorf, IA and his brother Jim Mershon of Whittier, CA. He was pre-deceased by his oldest daughter Katherine Mershon. A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday June 13, 2025, at St Urban Cemetery.  

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