NAME: FRANK JOHN MERLE, AGE 92, A LONG TIME COALGATE RESIDENT. BORN: FEBRUARY 25, 1914 IN TIPAR, HUNGARY TO FRANK ANTON AND ROSE (RUNG) MERLE. PASSED AWAY: SEPTEMBER 26, 2006 IN COALGATE, OK. AGE: 92 YEARS 7 MONTHS 1 DAY. EDUCATION: ATTENDED SCHOOL AT ST. MICHAEL IN CHICAGO, IL. MARRIED: BETTE DOWNARD ON JANUARY 30, 1943 IN COALGATE, OK. OCCUPATION: RETIRED BUTCHER/MEAT CUTTER FROM SONNY'S GROCERY IN COALGATE, OK. CHURCH AFFILIATION: MEMBER OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH AND THE VFW. HE SERVED IN THE U. S. ARMY. SURVIVED BY WIFE: BETTE MERLE OF THE HOME AT COALGATE, OK. DAUGHTER: VICKI COPE OF COALGATE, OK. SON: JOHN MERLE AND WIFE MARILYN OF PONCA CITY, OK. GRANDCHILDREN: MELANIE RAHRIG AND HUSBAND GIL. CHRISTIE COLE AND HUSBAND ROBBY. LUKE COPE AND WIFE SARA. JARROD MERLE AND WIFE LACEY. GARRET MERLE. FOSTER GRANDSON: JACOB GALLEGOS GREAT GRANDCHILDREN: DYLAN MERLE-RAEBURN, ERIN COLE, RYAN RAHRIG, ZACHARY COLE, LILY RAHRIG, AND ZANE COPE. SISTERS: MAGDALEN MERLE OF CHICAGO, IL. ROSE MCNELIS OF CHICAGO, IL. BARBARA ROSE OF CHICAGO, IL. MARY ANN ERICKSON OF CHICAGO, IL. SISTER-IN-LAW: MARY JO WEST OF COALGATE, OK. JANE DOWNARD OF COALGATE, OK. SUE DOWNARD OF COALGATE, OK. PRECEDED IN DEATH BY PARENTS: FRANK ANTON AND ROSE MERLE. BROTHERS: TONY\, JOE\, JOHN\, AND BUD MERLE. 6 BROTHER-IN-LAWS. 2 INFANT SISTERS. 4- SISTER-IN-LAWS.

DATE OF SERVICE: FRIDAY, SEPT. 29, 2006 AT 1100 A.M. PLACE OF SERVICE: UNITED METHODIST CHURCH ~ COALGATE, OK. INTERMENT: COALGATE CEMETERY. OFFICIATING: REV. FOY CONRAD. ASSISTING: REV. MARILYN MERLE. CASKETBEARERS: RANDY MCCOLLUM, PATRICK MCCOLLUM, CLAY MOWDY, STEVE PENNEY, BOB CODY, JOHNNIE BELLETTINI. HONORARY CASKETBEARERS: DON LEWIS, JOE PASQUALI, MARTY CISCO, JAMES STEVENS, GILBERT BLUE, J.D. SMITH, JACK MATTHEWS, CLABBER MCCLELLAN, BILL AVANZINI. IN LIEU OF FLOWERS PLEASE MAKE DONATIONS TO PARKINSON'S DISEASE FOUNDATION, DOWNARD & WITHERSPOON SCHOLARSHIP FUND, OR UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF COALGATE. FAMILY NIGHT WILL BE THURSDAY EVENING FROM 7 TO 9 P.M.