Merlin Lynn Staples, 86, of Idaho Falls, Idaho, passed away at home on March 11, 2026, under the care of Aspen Hospice.

Merlin was born on May 14, 1939, in Idaho Falls, to Wilford Britton Staples and Margaret Josephine Staples (Smith). He was the youngest of five children. He grew up in Goshen, Idaho, and graduated from Firth High School in 1957.

After working for Bowman Services Station in Shelly, Idaho, for a year, Merlin joined the Marine Corps in May of 1958 and served at 29 Palms, California, as an engineering equipment mechanic until March of 1962.

On May 5, 1962, he married Glenda Sue Owens of Clovis, California.

After leaving the Marine Corps, he worked for Seven Up Bottling in San Bernardino, California, for nine years before going to work for the local Case Company dealership. After working for Case as a mechanic in San Bernardino for one year, Merlin and his family returned to Idaho Falls in 1972, where he continued to work for Case and its follow-on companies until 2004.

After two years of retirement, Merlin started working part-time driving cars for Hertz in 2006 and drove for them until 2019, when his declining health forced him to slow down.

Merlin was an avid softball player, motorcycle rider, fisherman, hunter, and camper.

Merlin was preceded in death by his wife of sixty-one years, Glenda Staples, and all of his siblings.

Merlin is survived by his daughters: Doreen MacDonald, Brenda Adofo, Barbara Littleford, Donna Burrows, and Bobby Teppenpaw; his son, Merlin Staples, Jr., along with twelve grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Services are pending under the care of Coltrin Mortuary, 2100 First Street, Idaho Falls. Online condolences may be sent to www.coltrinmortuary.com.