Merritt Hadley

HADLEY, LINSLEY, RICH

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler (email)
Date: 8/1/2006 at 10:12:40

Earlham Echo - Thursday, December 2, 1943

Funeral services were held at the Friends church at Bear Creek for Merritt Hadley, Friday, November 26. Ben Harris from Union, Iowa was in charge of the service. He was assisted by John McCracken, pastor of the Bear Creek church.

Alma Mapes and Gertrude Conrad sang "Lead Kindly Light" and "God Understands." They were accompanied by Helen Fry.

Pall bearers were Russell and Dwayne Applegate, Otha Cook, Freemont Ober and John Hadley. Burial was in the Bear Creek cemetery.

OBITUARY

Oren Merritt, oldest son of Oren and Pearle Hadley, was born February 1st, 1915 on a farm in Bear Creek neighborhood near Earlham, Iowa. Here he spent his boyhood days, attended the Bear Creek school and enjoyed his country home life with its activities. In the year 1934, he graduated from the Redfield high school.

On December 31, 1937, Merritt was united in marriage with Lois Linsley of Adel, Iowa. They were at home in Cedar Rapids for some time then moved to Des Moines, where he had employment with the Gibbs-Cook Tractor and Equipment Company until March 1942, since then he has worked at the Ordnance Plant at Ankeny. Two years ago last July their home was brightened by the birth of a little daughter, Nancy Louise.

Merritt had been in gradually failing health for several months but did not quit work until September. Just a month before his death, he became seriously ill and was taken to the Iowa Lutheran hospital but the ministry of loving hands and the best of medical care could not arrest the ravages of disease. Death came to end his suffering on November 23, 1943, when he was not yet 29 years of age. He had realized that the end was near and left the testimony that he was ready to go. He was a birthright member of the Bear Creek Friends church.

Merritt loved his home and family. He was ever ready to do a helpful turn and had the faculty of making friends wherever he went. He was not a man of many words but in numerous little ways manifested his affection for those he loved. He will be sadly missed by those who knew him best. We cannot see beyond the veil and know the reason for his being taken when barely beyond the threshold of life, but we believe that "He doeth all things well."

Merritt leaves to mourn his passing, besides his wife Lois and daughter Nancy, his parents Oren and Pearle Hadley of Earlham, Iowa; two sisters, Mildred Rich of Bloomington, Indiana and Dorothy Lea at home; one brother Daylon of the U.S. Navy, now located at Washington, D. C.; his grandmother, Mary Hadley; two little nephews; uncles and aunts and many other relatives, a wide circle of friends.