Merton Lewis Jessel

Merton Lewis ‘Mert’ Jessel went to his heavenly home on May 6, 2010. Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 AM Monday, May 10, 2010 at First United Methodist Church of Wichita Falls with Rev. Paul Goodrich, Rev. John Dillard, Rev. Troy Sims and Rev. Lydia Pellikan officiating. Entombment will follow at Crestview Mausoleum. Visitation will be from 4:00 until 6:00 PM Sunday afternoon at Hampton Vaughan Funeral Home.

Mert was born on February 18, 1918 in Elk Mound, Wisconsin to Lewis Henry and Ida Mae (Whitcher) Jessel. He graduated high school there in 1936 and attended college at Stout University (University of Wisconsin system) where he played football and received a B.A. in Mechanical Engineering. He later received his M.A. degree from the University of Illinois.

He went to work for Civil Service at Chanute Army Air Force Base in Rantoul, Il. in 1940. He joined the military in 1941 and was honorably discharged in 1945. While in the service, he was an instructor teaching airplane engine repair. He spent a year and a half, TDY, in New Haven, Ct. at Yale University teaching ROTC cadets airplane engine repair. After his discharge, he returned to Civil Service at Chanute until its closing when he was transferred to Sheppard Air Force Base, retiring there in 1983.

While in the service, he traveled to colleges, universities and high schools in North Central U. S. showing how they could incorporate used Air Force material into their cirriculum. In his tenure with Civil Service, he visited Air Force bases in all but one of the lower 48 states.

While at Sheppard, he implemented the “Christmas Exodus” for airmen going home for Christmas. He was also responsible for the planes that are on display at Sheppard. He wrote the plans for the closing of Amarillo AFB and received many commendations for his work at SAFB.

Mr. Jessel was a member of First United Methodist Church, where he was a greeter for 40 years and a member of the Keystone Class. He was also a member of the Optimist Club, Phi Delta Kappa and was a 32nd Degree Mason.

He married Ella Mae Gibson in 1942 and she preceded him in death in 1991. He married Bobbie Leath in May, 1997 and she survives him. Other survivors include his son, David Jessel and wife, Zulai of Webster, Tx.; granddaughter, Heather Jessel Carlquist and husband, Chad of Allen, Tx.; grandsons, Chad Jessel of Webster and Brock Jessel and wife, Rochelle of Rosharon, Tx.; granddaughters, Erica and Lauren of Webster and 5 great grandchildren, Dylan and Ashley Carlquist and Stone, Grant and Aiden Jessel. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews, 6 sisters-in-law and 2 brothers-in-law.

Pall bearers will be Bill Presson, Jerry Taylor, Rick Orr, Mark Hetherington, Randy Martin, John Ferguson, Al Guinn and Kevin Key.

In lieu of usual remembrances, memorial donations may be made to FUMC of Wichita Falls Capital Fund or Keystone Class Fund, 909 Tenth St., 76301.

To share fond thoughts and memories, visit www.hamptonvaughancrestview.com