Darroll “Dean” Meyer passed away in the early morning of October 8, 2024, at his home in Eureka.

Dean was born on October 24, 1933, in Redding to Valentine Frederick “Val” Meyer and Bernice Belle “Bea” Mortensen. His childhood was filled with wonderful memories with his two older brothers Bob and Dale. He was either running around and helping out in the brick mill their father owned in Redding or working in the mill yard on school breaks in Korbel. Once moving to Korbel as a teen, Dean attended Arcata High School. It was at Arcata where he met Joyce Ames. He had asked her out several times, but she continued to refuse him. Around Christmas time of their senior year, her brother Mel finally convinced her to go on a date with Dean. They were both involved with student government at Arcata and Dean was Student Government President in the Spring semester. Dean and Joyce graduated in 1951. After graduation, Dean went to a diesel mechanic school in Portland, Oregon. On May 10, 1952, Dean and Joyce were married. They worked together at a trucking company in Blue Lake for a short while. Dean worked in the shop and Joyce in the office. After a few months, Dean and coworker Harry Nelson opened their own truck shop in McKinleyville. Unfortunately, as soon as the shop was up and running Dean was drafted into the United States Army.

Dean was stationed at Fort Sheridan, Illinois and Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. It was at Fort Leonard Wood that he got the news that Joyce was having their first child. He got back home to Arcata on April 27, 1954, having arrived just an hour or two after their son Darroll Dean Meyer Jr. was born. He was allowed ten days of leave for the birth before having to return to Fort Leonard Wood. Upon his return he was shipped to Wildflecken, Germany where he would be serving for a year. Dean served in the US Army from 1953 to 1955. On July 5, 1956, they welcomed their daughter Karen Kathleen into the world. During their childhood Darroll and Karen remember all the weekends Dean and Joyce would take them on camping trips to Hat Creek with the cousins, or to Myers Flat and Grizzly Creek with the Summit Street families and friends. Dean would spend these camping trips playing board games with the family, hiking and fishing.

Dean retired in 1988 from Brizard Matthews Machinery Co, where he had worked for over 30 years as a diesel mechanic and eventually a supervising manager. During his life, Dean worked many jobs including teaching small engine repair classes for the Cub Scouts and owning Uniontown Laundromat with family friends Mary and Ernie Cunningham.

In retirement, Dean and Joyce loved traveling and would take big trips to places like Alaska, Hawaii and Mexico. They would also make regular trips to Washington and Texas to see family and friends.Dean always recalled taking trips with his grandchildren. He and Joyce took many trips to Redding to see granddaughters Kristen and Kari and took them on trips to Washington. They spent many weekends at Hat Creek with Grandsons Jeff, Brad and Greg.

Dean and Joyce celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in May of 2002. On July 5 of that year Joyce passed away.

Dean was an avid hunter and fisherman, a love that he passed on to his son and grandsons. In his later years, he would go on many hunting and fishing trips to Montana with his son and grandson.

In July of 2007, Dean married Shirley Walken Morse. Together they would travel the country and enjoy spending time with their numerous children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and even great-great grandchildren.

Dean will always be remembered for his hard work ethic and devotion to family and friends. He always enjoyed the years his grandchildren participated in St. Bernard’s sports. Spectators will still remember hearing his booming voice yell “Defense” during basketball and football games. Dean was a long-time member of the Native Son of the Golden West and the Elks club.

He was forever proud of his 1973 Ford Pickup that amid the 1970s fuel crisis he installed a CAT diesel engine. One of the fond memories of his four oldest grandkids is when Grandpa Dean and Grandma Joyce took them to Disneyland while sitting in lawn chairs in the bed of this truck. That truck is still within the family and is a favorite to drive around town. Something Dean would always say was, “If you’re going to take the time to do something, do it right the first time.”

To his last day he was full of energy, tending to his apple trees and making his beloved applesauce.

Dean was preceded in death by his parents Val and Bea, his stepmother and mother-in-law Dorthey, his first wife Joyce, his brothers Dale and Bob (Pat), his stepdaughter Erlene, and his great granddaughter Taylor who passed away earlier this year. Dean is succeeded in death by his wife Shirley, his children Darroll Dean Jr. (Bobbi) and Karen (Rich), his grandchildren Jeff (Becca), Kristen (Micheal), Kari, Brad (Amie), and Greg, His great grandchildren, Shelby, Jena, Kodi, Tyson, Jason, Ava, Quinn, Ashton, and Harper, His step-children Greg (Barbara) and Genine (Brett). His step-grandchildren Judy (Kevin), RaeAnn, Stephen (Caitlin), Kailey (Matthew), Gavin (Lauren), Charlie (Jesse), Desiree, and Jared (Bailey), and his step-great-grandchildren Macy, Sierra, Danika, MaKenna, Huntley, Bridger, Lain, Elijah, Rook, Damien, Wyatt, David, Ian, Elliot, Oliver and Eve. The Meyer family would like to give special thanks to Elite Caregivers, especially Kim who cared for Dean.

At Dean’s request, there will be no services. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Bernards Academy Crusader Athletic Board.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Dean Meyer’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.