County, Meeker, Stories

Building a legacy one log at a time

Dick and Merle Dean Moyer were married on St. Patrick’s Day in 1951. The couple have four children, seven grandchildren and one great grandchild.

MEEKER I The Range Call committee has selected two exceptional individuals for this year’s parade marshals. The criteria must have been impeccable character, unmatched work ethic, family values and tremendous history in the area. These characteristics describe Dick and Merle Dean Moyer, the well-deserving 2011 Range Call honored guests.
Dick and Merle Dean were both raised in the area and grew up understanding the importance of hard work. Dick’s grandfather Lon Moyer was one of the original homesteaders on Lime Kiln. Dick’s father, George, homesteaded his own piece of land five miles away overlooking Miller Creek. Dick attended the Lime Kiln School until he was nine and his family moved to the Grand Valley.
A picture taken of him when he was 12 shows him standing next to a freshly fallen tree that’s nearly as tall as he is. Dick and his father, working together, cut down the tree with a two-man saw.
“I really enjoyed that summer, it is a privilege to work with your dad,” Dick said.
He joined the Navy and when he came back he returned to the lumber business. He worked for a sawmill in Himer Springs in 1948 and then moved with the work. He was working in a sawmill where Miller Creek flows into the White River when Gared and Janet Evenson introduced him to Merle Dean Hilkey at the St. Patrick’s Day dance in 1950. The two fell in love and were married the same day the following year.
They lived in Meeker for about a year before moving to Pitkin County, then on to Winter Park, Lyons, Walden, Telluride, Paradox, Blanding and Moab, Utah. When their oldest son was ready to begin school, however, they moved back to Meeker to stay.
Merle Dean attended her early years of school at the Marvine School and then went to the Buford School for sixth- through eighth-grade. She lived in the stone house currently owned by the Wix family on her family’s fox farm. She then worked in Meeker to pay her room and board and complete high school. After her marriage to Dick, she worked for the superintendent of schools and helped with bookkeeping for the approximately 30 schools. She has five half brothers and one half sister, all but one of whom will be attending the Range Call Celebration.
Dick and Merle Dean originally leased the land before purchasing their home and former business’ current location. Together with their son, Gary, they operated the lumber yard.
Dick’s exceptional craftsmanship was frequently seen in annual parades and in the lumber yard. He has built amazing tables, statues and art with his chainsaw.
Dick and Merle Dean have four children: Larry (Dianne), Donny (Sue), Beverly (Jim) Brennan and Gary (Betty Lou). They have seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild, Hattie Brennan, six months.
They built their current home in 1968 and added all of the buildings as their lumber business grew.
“It (the business) made a living for our family and taught our children how to work,” they said. There is no question each of their children have learned that skill. Integrity and hard work are synonymous with the Moyer family name.
Asked what they enjoyed most about raising children in Meeker, Merle Dean replied, “It is a small friendly community.”
“People are basically honest,” Dick added.
The concept of family has been important to them for nearly 61 years of marriage. Sitting down to eat dinner together and sharing the day’s activities taught their children the importance of family and passed on their intelligence and business sense.
Their moral foundation is as solid as the buildings they have built. They are fine examples of outstanding citizens and incredible people. Meeker should be very proud to have such outstanding representatives for our 2011 Range Call Celebration.

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  • Jake Blazon at bat for the Meeker Cowboys. The MHS team brought home two wins against Olathe and lost two against the North Fork Miners. The location for this weekend’s games has not been announced due to weather and field conditions. Read the full story online at ht1885.com.
  • The 2024 Meeker High School boys basketball team held their awards banquet last week. Jace Mobley was named Player of the Western Slope League and all-conference, Ryan Sullivan all-conference, Jonathon Fitzgibbons all-conference, Ethan Quinn honorable mention all-conference, Jacob Simonsen honorable mention all conference. Mobley will play in All State games. Coach Klark Kindler was named Western Slope Coach of the Year. Left to right: Bryan Rosas, Simonsen, Quinn, Fitzgibbons, Mobley and Sullivan.
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🐰 Hopping 🐰 your way this morning! Catch up on everything thats 🐣 hatching 🐣 in Rio Blanco County this week.
Need a copy? Signing up is fast and easy! Visit our website at ht1885.com/subscribe to get a copy sent to your door every week! 
We appreciate all your continued support!
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Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch.  See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
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Jake Blazon at bat for the Meeker Cowboys. The MHS team brought home two wins against Olathe and lost two against the North Fork Miners. The location for this weekend’s games has not been announced due to weather and field conditions. Read the full story online at ht1885.com.
Jake Blazon at bat for the Meeker Cowboys. The MHS team brought home two wins against Olathe and lost two against the North Fork Miners. The location for this weekend’s games has not been announced due to weather and field conditions. Read the full story online at ht1885.com.
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The 2024 Meeker High School boys basketball team held their awards banquet last week. Jace Mobley was named Player of the Western Slope League and all-conference, Ryan Sullivan all-conference, Jonathon Fitzgibbons all-conference, Ethan Quinn honorable mention all-conference, Jacob Simonsen honorable mention all conference. Mobley will play in All State games. Coach Klark Kindler was named Western Slope Coach of the Year. Left to right: Bryan Rosas, Simonsen, Quinn, Fitzgibbons, Mobley and Sullivan.
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It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 
🐰 Hopping 🐰 your way this morning! Catch up on everything thats 🐣 hatching 🐣 in Rio Blanco County this week.
Need a copy? Signing up is fast and easy! Visit our website at ht1885.com/subscribe to get a copy sent to your door every week! 
We appreciate all your continued support!
It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 🐰 Hopping 🐰 your way this morning! Catch up on everything thats 🐣 hatching 🐣 in Rio Blanco County this week. Need a copy? Signing up is fast and easy! Visit our website at ht1885.com/subscribe to get a copy sent to your door every week! We appreciate all your continued support!
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Mormon crickets have hatched near Rangely. They were all sighted on BLM land north of Hwy. 64 near the junction of CR 96 and CR 1, down a dirt road near the Moffat County line. The picture shown was taken yesterday by Mary Meinen from Rangely. She says the crickets are about the size of a ladybug (less than 1/2”). Some of them are actually yellow in color but most of them are darker. They are milling around and getting ready to start moving soon. Note: Photo is not to scale. Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch. See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
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