SMITH, Merle

SMITH, STIER, ANDERSON, SCHULKE, APPLETOFT, DAWSON

Posted By: Don Blake
Date: 9/16/2004 at 12:08:37

Cherokee Times, Chronicle

A funeral for Merle Smith, 79, of Aurelia was held Tuesday, Oct. 21 2003, at the First United Methodist Church in Aurelia, with Pastor Jack Weida officiating. Burial took place in the Afton Township cemetery. Redig Funeral Home in Aurelia was in charge of arrangements. A memorial fund has been established

Merle died Sunday, Oct. 19, 2003, at the Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City Iowa.

Henry Merle Smith was born July 5, 1924, the son of Clarence and Clara ( Stier) Smith at Cherokee, Iowa. He graduated from the Cherokee High School in 1942. He served with the U.S. Navy during WWll, serving four and one half years in the South Pacific. After his discharge from the Navy he worked at Yosemite National Park building log cabins. In 1947 he came back to Cherokee and began installing floor covering for his uncle which he later continued to do independently. After his return to Iowa Merle joined the Army Reserve, of which he was a member for 23 years.On Deb. 18, 1950 Merle married Lois Rachel Ritter in the Little Brown Church at Nashua,Iowa. Merle was a member of the First United Methodist Church, and served on the Memorial Committee, the Aurelia Library Board, and the Cherokee VFW. He enjoyed collecting toys and antiques.

Preceding Merle in death were his parents.

Survivors include his wife, Lois Smith of Aurelia, two sons, Dana and his wife Barb Smith of Aurelia, and Cameron and his wife Nora Smith of Placitas, New Mexico, one daughter, Paula and her husband Rick Anderson of Los Lunas, New Mexico, eight grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, one brother, Franklin Smith and his wife Carol Dawson of Morattico, Virgina, two sisters, Betty and her husband Gordon Schulke of Baxter, Minnesota, and Linda and her husband Al Appletoft of Grovetown, Georgia, and nieces and nephews and other relatives and friends.