Alfred J. Merkle

Alfred J. "Al" Merkle was born in Guthrie, Oklahoma on July 12, 1949 to James A. and Alpha Mae Merkle. He was one of four children and grew up on a farm in southeast Logan County. His family attended Arcadia Baptist Church.

Al married the love of his life, Marilyn Chartney, on August 15, 1970 in the Arcadia Baptist Church. They were blessed with two children, Michael and Tammy. They raised their family on the Merkle family farm that Al grew up on.

Al loved the outdoors and was a devout Christian. Al and his family are long-time members of the Woodcrest Baptist Church. His grandparents donated the land for the church building and were charter members. Al served as a deacon and a Sunday school teacher for a number of years. For the last several years, Al and Marilyn were custodians of the church property.

Al worked at the General Motors Assembly Plant in Oklahoma City, retiring with nearly 27 years of service. His last position at GM was as a paint specialist. He was well-known for leading Bible studies on the plant floor during breaks.

Al was preceded in death by his parents and nephews: Scott Williams, Jimmy Jay, and Loren Conwell. He is survived by his wife, Marilyn; son, Michael; daughter, Tammy; grandchildren, Annika and Luke; sisters, Carolyn Marie Conwell of Pasadena, Texas and Lydia Alice Williams of Edmond, Oklahoma; brother, Dan and his wife Vickie of Fort Worth, Texas; a niece; several nephews; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, other family members, and friends.