Merlin James Flora

Merlin was the youngest of six boys and was the son of Oscar and Hazel (Cress) Flora. He was saved at the age of 8.

He mowed lawns and did factory work in Michigan.

He joined the Air Force in 1953 and served honorably for four years. While in the Air Force he served in Nebraska, New Mexico, Japan and on the island of Iwo Jima.

Merlin’s GI bill helped him attend Central Tech Institute. He worked for Collins Radio in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

He attended Calvary Baptist in Kansas City, Missouri and met Mary Nell at BTU, March of 1958. They were engaged October 4th and were married a couple of months later, December 20, 1958 at Calvary Baptist Chapel.

They moved to Iowa June of 1959 and lived in a tiny 2nd floor apartment. They then bought their first home which was built by Grant Woods, the artist. Merlin got his first Hudson car while living there.

In 1964 they started building a home in Robins, Iowa and lived there until 1972. Merlin and Mary Nell liked living in the country at that time. They helped build the Robins Baptist Church by helping with the digging before the cement was poured and other jobs to help with the construction of the church. It was a wonderful time in their lives.

Merlin led the Boy Brigade and taught Sunday school in Robins and Cedar Rapids, Iowa and also in Loveland, Colorado.

Merlin and Mary Nell adopted Ann and Roy while living in Robins, Iowa. It was a great place to live and they have many friends, especially through their church connections.

Merlin led the youth group and each Sunday drove several miles to pick up kids for church services.

They were active in the fellowship at church and did a lot of planning for adult socials and youth groups.

Their next move was to Loveland, Colorado where Merlin took on employment with Hewlett Packard. He was with HP from 1972 to 1998.

Merlin worked in Awana over 10 years and for Alpha for 2 years. He was the head of Awana Primitive Camp for two years. They would climb to the mountain top and camp there with 75 youth. The camp was South West of Masonville, Colorado.

Merlin owned his own motel which he named “Merlin’s Shadow Mountain Motel in Grand Lake, Colorado for 13 ½ years.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Nell Flora, daughter: Ann, son: Roy, three grandchildren: Elisa, Avery, Shannon and three great-grandchildren: Lane, Garrett and Sullivan.

A memorial service will be held at Galilee Baptist Church, 2525 Van Buren Court, Loveland, 10:30 am, Friday, January 22nd.