Mr. Merle E. Ward

Mr. Merle E. Ward was a modest man, quiet and observant in his ways. He was trustworthy and traditional in his approach to his life and in his relationships. He was tough-minded with the kind of “stick to it” attitude that earned the respect of all who knew him. Realistic about life, he was always at the ready, prepared to take on responsibility.

      Merle was raised with four sisters and three brothers. He had two deceased brothers, Arthur Wayne and Norman Paul, as well as one deceased sister, Bernice. His surviving brother is William (Dub) Ward and his three younger sisters, Clara, Verna and Irene. Merle was usually involved in all sorts of activities with his siblings. He and his siblings experienced rivalries typical of a growing family, but they shared many life experiences over the years.

      As a young boy, Merle had a number of interests. He was curious about the world around him and was often eager to explore it. Merle was an active child who took part in helping with farm and family chores associated with being raised in a large family. He was a student and enjoyed mischief. In his spare time he liked to play with his brothers and cousins, playing music including guitars, banjos, mandolin and singing. Shorty's memorable achievements included moving away from home, as a teenager, to support himself in the big city of Kansas City, where he put himself through high school by working at St. Luke's Hospital. He would help his family back home by sending money home to help support them. This giving nature was a characteristic that Merle exhibited early in his life and it above all other traits came to define the giant of a man that he was.

      A typical teenager, Merle had a fairly happy high school experience, making that critical transition from adolescence to adulthood. He enjoyed some classes more than others, having favorite subjects and teachers.

      Always considered a “good” friend to those he knew, Merle enjoyed a broad group of acquaintances and several very close friends during his lifetime. While growing up, some of his best friends were Claude Patterson, Don Roy, Arnold Lee Reynolds, Lois McClanahan, Darlene King. Later in life, he became friends with many people associated with his church, including Earl Leewright, Glen Ford, Charles Brewer, Dennis and Sandy Pugh, Rev. Charles Hayton, Steve Gleason, James Bourland, Rev. Phil Williams, Rev. Harold Platter. Other friends included Ralph Roush, Glen and Delores Lawrence, Perry and Codean Howell and John and Anne Dunbar.

      On October 5, 1957 Merle exchanged wedding vows with Jodell Beaty at Swope Parkway Church of God Holiness of Kansas City, Missouri. Loving and loyal, Merle was committed to making his new wife and future family happy.They would be married for over 50 years and Jodell was his best friend and sweetheart. They happily celebrated their 50th year of marriage with a trip to Maui, Hawaii with their children and grandchildren.

      Merle worked hard to be a good father to his children and he did his best to fulfill their needs. Merle was blessed with four children, three daughers, Judy, Cindy, and Roberta and one son, Roger. He was always there for them, in the best and worst of times, assuring them of his love for them and of his faith in God to meet all our needs. He and Jodell prayed for their children daily as that was the greatest gift he could always give. Another blessing for Merle was the gift of three grandchildren and three step grandchildren, Ryan Tosatto, Benjamin and Emma Sullivan, Brittany Porter, Marcus Finley and Dawn Finley Lakin. Merle loved his son-in-laws and was always willing to come lend a hand or a shoulder to support the extended family. Merle loved his parents and siblings, and 25 nieces and nephews dearly and also considered his wife's family as his own.

He so enjoyed spending the day at family reunions where singing the songs of the country and the church was always a uplifting, heartwarming activity.

      Fortunately, Merle enjoyed what he did for a living and he excelled at it. Showing a strong work ethic, Merle worked diligently and did his best to succeed in his career. His primary extended occupation was Manager, Rail Fleet Maintenance within the petroleum industry. He was employed for many years by Mobil Oil Corporation and managed a large team of men at his Fairfax plant in Kansas City KS. Having many good bosses and workers, Merle's greatest friend at work was Delores Lawrence. Merle always sought to be a team player, a Christian example, and doing what was necessary in order to get the job done. He was honored with a beautiful retirement dinner at Cascones the year he retired. His friends at Mobil compiled a great memory album of personal letters and cherished wishes to send him happily on his retirement journey.

      Merle was an Army Veteran. He was in the army from 1957 to 1959 serving in Mineral Wells Texas. He was inducted in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri and then trained at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Through his hard work, he achieved the rank of Private, First Class. His fellow soldiers viewed him as a brother in arms and knew that he was as much a part of their family as their loved ones back home. During the days in Texas, he would develop a friendship that would last a lifetime with Bobbi and Reuben Smith.

      Merle spent his small amount of leisure time enjoying various hobbies. His favorite pursuits were gardening, traveling and attending gospel music concerts and family gatherings and watching his grandkids. He traveled to Israel, Hong Kong, Philippines, Hawaii, Alaska and 46 other states. Most of the time though, he was simply lending a hand to someone who had a need. He truly went about doing good and was truly a good friend to many.

      Throughout his life, Merle was a doer and was always actively involved in professional,community and religious organizations. Throughout his later years, Merle was an active member of the Gideons International Bible Society and helped work on many causes that he had a passion for. During his career at Mobil Oil, he also served as President of the White Eagle Credit Union and was an active participant in United Way organizations and Junior Achievement. Merle loved children and was active in "grandparent style" participation at all the musical, artistic and athletic programs where his grandkids and children were performing.

      Merle’s faith was important to him. He was a member of the Church of the Nazarene and attended Dundee Hills (now New Hope) Church of the Nazarene for most of his adult life. As a child, Merle was raised in the Church of God Holiness and also attended the Bible schools at Ava, Missouri and Overland Park, Kansas. During that time, he was an avid Bible student and this stayed with him all his life. He served others through daily acts of kindness and had a heart for missions. He was thrilled to work on several mission trips to the Philippines, worked to help build churches and the Kansas City Rescue Mission in Missouri. For years, he ran a bread ministry in conjunction with Panera Bread. He was a children's church worker, a Sunday School teacher and S. S Superintendent, a VBS worker, church camp counselor, a church board member, an usher, a custodian, a visiting minister to small churches and nursing homes. A lifelong tither, he also donated many dollars towards Christian education and the care of the church missionaries and pastors. He truly served others and ministered through his daily walk with his Lord, Jesus Christ.

      When Merle’s retirement finally arrived in 1992, he was well prepared. His new life involved relocating to Hermitage Missouri to his lake home on Lake Pomme de Terre. During this time, Merle enjoyed playing golf and boating. He joined the Camdenton Church of the Nazarene and enjoyed serving at that church. In retirement, he found new pleasure in gardening and traveling but eventually had the need to return to Kansas City to work. He left retirement to work for the North Kansas City School District as a school bus driver for another 17 years, where he continued working until the time of his death. Even in retirement, Merle continued to stay in touch with his old friends while making plenty of new acquaintances.

      Merle passed away on September 19, 2009 at Merle died in the front yard at his Kansas City home on North Jackson. Merle was cutting limbs from a tree by the driveway when he fell, causing his death. He is survived by a loving wife, four children, three grandchildren, 3 step grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren and a host of dear friends and family. Services were held at Mc Gilley Funeral Home in North Kansas City, Missouri. Merle was laid to rest in Mount Moriah Cemetery in Kansas City Missouri.

      Simply stated, Merle was a good and kind person, an individual who will, for all time, be remembered by his family and friends as being a caring and giving person, someone who was a vital part of their lives. Merle leaves behind him a legacy of life-long friendships and many cherished memories. Everyone whose life he touched will always remember Mr. Merle E. Ward.