On Saturday, April 2, 2022, Merlin “Pete” Crystal packed his saddlebags one last time and headed off to those greener pastures he had spoken about. He was surrounded by his family at home. He was 91.
Pete was born on Christmas Day, 1930 in Kamas, Utah. Back then it took three days to reach the recorder’s office, so his license shows his birth as December 28. He attended school in Kamas, Utah, and in 1948 joined the Navy where he was a Seaman First Class working with the Seabees running heavy equipment on Saipan Island near Guam. Pete was honorable discharged in 1952 when he moved to Fallon. He worked for various cattle ranches in the valley and eventually went to work for the Nevada Department of Transportation Fallon crew where he spent 28 years until his retirement in 1995.
Pete loved his mules and the ladies, both of which he always called “Sweetheart.” Anyone who ever crossed paths with Pete took an instant liking to him.
Pete is proceeded in death by his father Herman Crystal, mother Reva Gines, brother Chris Crystal, sister Audrey Godfrey, sister Betty Johnson, granddaughter Alyssa Garcia, great-granddaughter Iris White Eagle Rivers.
He is survived by his brothers Arzy Crystal, Arnold Crystal, Jimmy and Janice Crystal, sister Maxeen Long, all of Kamas, Utah; sons Peter Crystal of Vernona, Oregon, Shawn and Victoria Crystal of Fallon, and Robert Crystal; grandchildren Petey and Levi Crystal, Ashlee and Dominic Szlavich all of Oregon; Tyler, Jesse, and Colt Crystal all of Fallon, Tyler and Kimber (Brown ) Liedke of Fernley, David and Donna Brown of Fernley; Robert Brown of Reno; Maverick Boney of Dayton; Great-grandchildren Noah Sarabia of Pyramid Lake, Eva Rivers of Wadsworth, Colby Brown of Fernley, Emma Brown of Fallon, Aiyanna Brown of Winnemucca, and Lydia Brown of Iowa, along with numerous nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life will be held on May 14, 2022, at noon at the Dry Gulch Building at the Churchill County Fairgrounds, 255 Sheckler Road, Fallon, Nevada 89406.
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