MERLE DIED AT 15 YEARS OLD AND HE WAS A SON OF GUNNER'S LAKESHORE ROCKET. MERLE IS THE GREAT-GRANDSON OF MASTER HUNTER ROCKY'S LAKESHORE GUNNER, YUKONS JAY'S STONE E MASTER HUNTER, AND CHAMPION MANHATAN ANNIE'S SCOOTER PIE MASTER HUNTER. HE WAS THE GREAT-GREAT GRANDSON OF JUNIOR HUNTER STONE'S HILLVIEW ROCKY, MASTER HUNTER FERGIE'S HAPPY TIME, SENIOR HUNTER S AND S MEG OF BACKCREEK, CHAMPION CUTTY SARK KOAN, AND CHAMPION MANHATANS IRONGUNS APPLE ANNIE SENIOR HUNTER.