Published by Legacy Remembers on Dec. 29, 2023.

Merle Wayne Cressy was born in Chamberlain, South Dakota to Rachel Mary Ellen Pease Cressy and Peter Justin Cressy on August 10, 1934. Along with older sister, Shirley Luella Cressy Tripp, the family moved to Hayward, Wisconsin when Merle was 6 years old. He attended Hayward high school, where he played baseball, basketball, tennis, played drums in the Pep band, sang in the Choir and was on the Homecoming Committee, graduating in 1952. 

The whole family moved to Oregon, where Merle attended college at Portland State University (class of '57) and later earning a Masters degree in teaching at Reed College in 1966. Merle married Nancy Jean Cressy, and they had 2 kids: Troy Susan Cressy and Robin Justin Cressy.

Merle taught social studies at Sunset high school in the 1960's and then at Aloha high school for a dozen or so years, before finishing up his high school teaching career back at Sunset high school, retiring from teaching in 1988. During his teaching years at Aloha high school, he also was part of the "Chain-gang" at varsity football games (those guys on the sideline that measure the first downs), ran the electronic scoreboard at boys basketball games, coached the Aloha high school ski team, and umpired baseball games. He also served as President of the Beaverton Education Association for 2 years, where he helped negotiate teacher contracts and avoid teacher strikes. He played a pivotal role in the creation of the Presidential Model Conventions held at Sunset High School beginning in 1964 and along with his good friend and fellow teacher, Jim Barlow, helped lure Presidential candidate, Bobby Kennedy, over to Sunset high school for their 1968 model convention. 

He was also a part-time bartender at the Greenwood Inn. He was an aggressive skier and as well as an excellent tennis player. Merle moved to Bend, Oregon in the early 90's and continued to stay busy doing things like dancing on cruise ships, acting in local plays, giving tours at the High Desert Museum in Bend, skiing at Mt Bachelor, was an avid Portland Trail Blazers fan and did lots and lots of canoeing and fishing adventures in Canada, Alaska, and Eastern Oregon. 

Merle is survived by his two kids, Troy Cressy, and Robin Cressy, Granddaughters Randi Humphries and Piper Humphries.

For more info on Mr. Cressy check out the link below to a video that was made 9 months before he died.

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/legacyremembers/merle-cressy-obituary?id=53965512