Obituary – Merle Davison

Merle Wayne Davison was born to Alva Earl Davison, Sr. and Margaret Louise Nelson Davison on September 26, 1934 in Elkhart, Kansas at the home of a Mrs. Thomas, who made her home available for expectant mothers. The attending physician was Clyde Burnett, M. D. The Davison's were living in their home near the new town of Bartlett in Baca County. Carl was two years older than Merle.
This was in the depth of the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl. The economy had ground to a halt and in our area of the country very few crops were grown due to the drought and blowing dust.
In 1936 the family moved to a farm on the Colorado-Kansas line east of Holly. They were still there in late 1937 when John was born. From there they moved to a place just west of Lamar with a small acreage, but no farmable ground. In 1939 the family moved again to an irrigated farm near Canon City, Colorado, where they remained for five years.
Merle began his elementary education at the Four-Mile School near their home. The teacher was Leslie O. Burris, a rather distinguished mid-westerner from Illinois. He was rather strict, but a very nice man, though starting out a class of first-graders might not have been his forte. In 1942 he was elected Fremont County Treasurer and resigned from the school. The Davison farm was hardly big enough to provide a living, so Margaret became the new school teacher. She taught the half-year and the next year until the family moved back to Bartlett. While in Canon City the family attended the First Baptist Church. During a city-wide revival Merle professed Christ as Savior and was baptized at the church there.
In 1944 the family came back to Baca County and lived with Merle's grandmother, aunt and uncle for that winter. He was a sixth grader at the Bartlett school, taught that year by Mrs. Molly Johnston. The family then lived in the Tom Shyer store building in Bartlett until their new house on the old homestead was completed in 1948. Alva was born in 1947.
Merle started high school in 1947 at Walsh, which seemed like quite a move upward at the time. He and the family were attending the First Baptist Church and was involved in the various activities of the Sunday School and Youth group.
Merle graduated in 1951 as valedictorian of his class. He received the Joint Honor Scholarship and the Bausch and Lomb Science award among other things.
After graduating Merle went back to help his father on the farm. In 1953 they drilled an irrigation well and raised corn, milo, broom corn, sorghum crops and certified seed at different times.
Merle was inducted into the U. S. Army in January, 1957, taking basic training at Fort Carson, CO and Field Radio Repair at Fort Gordon, GA. In November of 1958 he shipped overseas to South Korea, where he worked as a Radio Relay operator on a Radio Relay team, assigned to the 13th Signal Battalion, First Cavalry Division. He was honorably discharged in January, 1959 and came back to farm another year.
In 1960 Merle went to work for Walsh Oil Co. and Walsh Propane Service as bookkeeper for Olen Hardy and L. J. Fisher. For a few years he worked for Davis Drilling Co. checking gas wells south of Walsh.
Merle was very much involved in establishing the Walsh Baptist Church beginning in 1961. He was elected Treasurer of the new organization and was on the board to write a constitution. He was also Church Pianist. He continued to be both Treasurer and Pianist/organist for the remainder of his life. He also served on various committees and boards in the church.
Merle met Barbara Jean Lacy at a Youth Event in Springfield. They were married on May 24, 1964 at the Gospel Baptist Church in Springfield. She was born September 29, 1943, youngest daughter of George Martin Lacy and Mary Ellen Bamber Lacy.
They had sons, Bruce Wayne, born 11/7/65, Mitchell Brent and Mark Bradley, twins born 11/14/70. Mark passed away on January 1, 1971, which was a cause of great sadness for the family. Curtis Dean was born April 14, 1973. All of the boys were born at the Walsh District Hospital in Walsh. The children were the delight of his life.
Merle continued to work for Olen Hardy after the partnership was ended in 1970. He assumed more responsibilities, which included dispatching trucks, keeping up with safety rules and qualifying truck drivers. Olen sold the business to his son Max in 1986, which increased Merle's responsibilities with the company. He was named Vice President of Walsh Propane, Inc. and enjoyed the diverse aspects of the job. Barbara also worked for the company as office manager.
It was Merle and Barbara's joy to see all three of their sons graduate from college and establish good lives. Barbara's death in 1996 was a blow to the entire family.
In retirement Merle continued his work in the Walsh Baptist Church as organist and treasurer and was appointed to the board of directors of the Walsh Healthcare Center in 2000 and about the same time was a member of the Walsh Housing Authority Board.
In 2001 Merle was married to Phyllis Ann Whitley at the Walsh Baptist Church with Rev. Andrew Mooren and Rev. Kent Little officiating. Her home was in LaCrosse, Kansas and more recently Johnson, Kansas. With this marriage Merle acquired a son, Tod Whitley and daughter, Sue Stoecklein.
Their spouses, children and grandchildren soon found a place in his heart.
Bruce and Christine's children, Keara and Kailei have come to brighten Merle and Phyllis' lives, along with Mitchell and Lieu's children, Khiem and Anika. Curtis and Amy have been a continuing blessing to them.

Merle is survived by his wife Phyllis Davison of Walsh, his brother John Davison and wife Margaret of Parker, Colorado, brother Alva Davison and wife Janie of Aurora, Colorado, his son Bruce Davison and wife Christine of Parker, Colorado, son Mitch Davison and wife Lieu of Aurora, Colorado, son Curtis Davison and wife Amy of Colorado Springs, Colorado, daughter Sue Stoecklein and husband Allan of Hutchinson, Kansas, son Tod Whitley and wife Yolie of Virginia Beach, Virginia, ten grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and many friends.
He was preceded in death by his son Mark Davison, his first wife Barbara Lacy Davison, and his brother Carl Davison.