Merlin Elmer Bradshaw

Merlin was born on Jan. 14, 1930 in Sparks, Nevada to John and Mabel Bradshaw. His siblings at that time were 2 older sisters, Althea and Yvonne. Twelve years later his brother Donny was born. (His mother had a best friend in Sparks whose son Elliott has been Merlin’s life long friend and was with us at Dad’s side at the time of his passing.) Merlin would joke that “Reno is so close to Hell you can see Sparks!"

Dad’s family moved to Sacramento from Sparks when he was 9 years old. Merlin was an outgoing boy who made friends easily. This trademark trait was a wonderful part of his personality and served him well throughout his life. In his elementary school and junior high years his family moved frequently. On drives through downtown Sacramento and North Sacramento he would point out the streets he lived on, (houses if still standing), and schools he attended for each grade. He would have stories about each place, like the friend who would give him rides home from school on his bicycle handlebars or the friend who shared his ice-cream bars when dad didn’t have money to buy his own, where he’d find pick-up games of basketball. 
Merlin always loved sports, especially basketball, and played whenever he could. He was on the Sacramento High “B” team  and had the exciting distinction of hitting the winning basket as the gun went off at the San Joaquin Conference Championship for a 38-37 victory over Lodi. Coach F.J. (Pop) Brorsen recalled it in a retirement interview as the most memorable moment of his coaching career. Merlin had nothing but accolades, respect and admiration for Coach Brorsen anytime he spoke of him. 
He started his post high school education at Sacramento City College. He attended for 1 year before joining the U.S. Navy, serving for one year. His accounts of “washing more dishes than we’d see in a lifetime” during that time always made us laugh and say, “No way Dad!”

After the Navy, Merlin attended Sac City College another semester while working several jobs to save money to go on a mission for the LDS church.  He attended Sacramento City College after his mission for another semester while working to save money to attend Brigham Young University. Merlin’s faith was always at the center of his life. Being called to serve his church in Argentina was met with great enthusiasm and anticipation. He loved the Argentine people and his fellow missionaries. He even met a cousin he hadn’t met before who was also serving his mission in Argentina. (Merlin’s father was one of 17 children, so not surprising he had cousins he hadn’t met!) Early on he was required to lead a congregation in song and had never done it before-“baptism by fire” as the saying goes! He was good at it and found it something he really enjoyed. Leading music for church choirs and congregations became an important part of his church callings over many years, culminating with the calling of Stake Music Director for 25 years.

  At BYU he taught Spanish, tennis and ballroom dancing while taking a full load of units in his Physical Education major. While there he began dating Arleen Lyman, also from Sacramento. They were married July 12, 1954, and welcomed their first child, daughter Allison, in Jan. 1956. Merlin graduated in the spring with a degree in Physical Education, and just a few units shy of having a double major including Spanish. The couple moved soon after to Pullman, Washington where he attended Washington State University for a Master’s Degree in Physical Education. He achieved this in 1 year, the only student in his fellowship group to do so. 

The young family then moved to Santa Cruz, California from Washington, where Merlin coached football and basketball at the local high school. He  coached for 1 year, during which time they welcomed their second daughter Karen, in February 1958.

If being outgoing was an integral part of Merlin’s personality, so was enthusiasm. He was always excited at the prospect of new experiences, meeting new people, trying new foods, and encouraging his daughters to do the same: “Just try it” was said often. 

Dad always maintained a good attitude. Whether entering the kitchen from the living room, a room of friends or family, a classroom, a meeting, or a congregation of 200, he entered with intention: what he could do for others, make others comfortable, ready to offer the best of himself and make a positive contribution with his smile, words, and demeanor. 
After his mission, leaving Argentina by ship, he toured Europe before coming home. This was a highlight of his life, with so many “firsts” experienced and enjoyed. One of the ports took him one place that no one he’d ever met since had been: Trinidad. Ironically this tour did not include Spain, where he travelled to 4 or 5 times later in life. Becoming fluent in Spanish while on his mission took Merlin on an unanticipated career path: teaching Spanish for a total of over 60 years. He taught at Fern Bacon Junior High in Sacramento, Sacramento State College, and last, over 55 years at American River College. He loved teaching, not fully retiring until he was 84 years old. He spoke Spanish so fluently and beautifully that people he met in Spain could not identify where he was from from his accent but were positive he wasn’t American!

Merlin always found opportunity and saw possibilities. The first family pet, a Boxer-Irish Setter he named Che, (Argentine slang for “friend”) provided him the challenge and fun of training his beloved dog and friend in Spanish. The dog learned over 30 commands in Spanish; friends, family and neighbors all learned a few Spanish phrases as well.
Dad gave his wife and daughters the opportunity to travel and twice took us on extended trips to Spain. The first in 1968 for 6 weeks while he taught other Spanish teachers to hone and improve their speaking and teaching skills. Group trips on weekends to different cities highlighted  Spanish culture, Spain and its history. We went to Pamplona for the running of the bulls and to Santiago de Compostela, site of one of the oldest cathedrals in Spain. The second trip was in 1972  and was the trip of a lifetime. He took a sabbatical the winter semester and we called beautiful Seville, Spain home for 4 months. Dad had ordered a VW van, so we drove from Frankfurt through Germany and France to southern Spain. His father came to visit us in Seville, and one of the best parts of his visit was we went on a quick trip to Morocco. After our time in Seville, we toured for 2 months, seeing the beautiful sights and history in Spain, France, Germany, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Brussels, Amsterdam and across the Channel to England. 

In his mid-life, Dad developed a passion for playing racquetball, and had a group of fellow teachers from American River College that he challenged regularly. Another passion was sailing, something he was invited to share in with friends from American River College who were avid, experienced sailors. He loved sailing and found being on the ocean spiritual and exhilarating, imagining what early explorers might have thought as they sailed uncharted waters. On one of their sailing expeditions they were granted permission to enter the Farallon Islands preserve.
1980 was a landmark year for Merlin and Arleen, becoming grandparents. Baby Jennifer opened a whole new world of delight to her grandparents and the rest of us. She eventually had to share her grandparents with her siblings, Kamryn, Chris, and Lacey, and cousins Michael and Matthew. 

His daughters, granddaughters, and great-granddaughters will miss his cheerful, loving greeting of “Hello, beautiful” in person and on the phone. We could look forward to it, count on it, as so many things we could count on from him.

Dad passed away peacefully in the late morning of Jan. 8, 2022, 6 days before his 92nd birthday. He’d experienced challenges of aging for some time and we are so thankful he had the blessings of many healthy, active years and that we were part of his life and family. He will be missed forever. 

Friends and family are welcome to attend the visitation from 9:00-9:45AM with the service starting at 10:00AM all at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4125 San Juan Ave., Fair Oaks, CA. Interment to follow at Fair Oaks Cemetery, 7780 Olive Street, Fair Oaks, CA. 
 

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