Douglas James Merkler, a fourth generation Nevadan, died from metastatic small-cell lung cancer on January 17, 2024, in Boulder City, Nevada, with his beloved wife, Lois (Alexander) Merkler, by his side. He was 67 years old.

Douglas Merkler was on born June 22, 1956, in Seattle, Washington to Mary ‘Dakin’ Griswold and George Joseph Merkler.

Doug spent his early years in Seattle, Washington. Because George was a Naval Aviator, his family moved to Meridian, Mississippi, and Coronado, California, before separating and moving to Reno, Nevada in 1966 where Dakin and Gilbert ‘Gib’ Landell III were married. It was Gib, who became Doug’s ‘Pop’, that with Dakin, raised him with love and care alongside his brothers, Chan, and Gordon.

In Reno, he attended local schools, graduating from Reno High School in 1974. It was in Nevada, where he spent time with his family exploring the mountains, the desert, and his mom’s childhood ranch, that he honed his love for, and developed his curiosity of the natural world. He was a gifted athlete and a talented artist who excelled in multi-media, but particularly pencil, pen and ink, and watercolor. He was also a talented musician, playing the flute for many years.