Merle John DeMier

Merle John DeMier, 82, of Tahlequah , OK, died Friday, January 12, 2018. Merle was born September 29, 1935 in Commerce, OK, to John and Geneva (Lacy) DeMier. He was the eldest son with two younger brothers, Wayne Dean DeMier and Lacy Ray DeMier. Merle is survived by his daughter Karen Stout and husband, Jack of Grove, OK, his grandson Matthew Brodrick and wife, Alisha, of Miami, OK, and his granddaughter Katie Stout of Muskogee, OK. His first great-grandchild is expected to arrive in July 2018 to parents, Matt & Alisha. Additional survivors are his youngest brother, Lacy "Squirt" DeMier and wife Jo of Missouri, Patty DeMier, widow of brother Wayne, of Grand Lake, OK, and many cousins, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, mother and brother, Wayne DeMier. Merle graduated from Miami High School in 1953 and returned to school later in life to earn his Associates of Arts from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College, Miami, OK, in 1987. He married Betty Lou Linn on December 22, 1955 in Miami, OK. In 1975 they were divorced and he never remarried. Merle began his work career as a very young man working for his Grandmother, Louise Lacy, and Uncle, Carl Lacy, at Lacy Implement, Miami, OK. He worked for Central Petroleum Company (Cen-Pe-Co) as a rural route salesman and Ron Coker Chrysler-Dodge, Miami, OK as their Service & Parts Manager. He felt privileged to be instrumental in helping with two local businesses as they opened in Miami, OK: Wal-Mart and Arby’s. Following their openings Merle was employed by Wal-Mart as their Sporting Goods Department Manager and for Arby’s as their Restaurant Manager. Throughout his life, Merle lived in Fredricktown, MO; Miami, OK; Grove, OK; Bernice, OK and Tahlequah, OK. Of recent, Merle was a resident at Higher Call Nursing Center, Quapaw, OK. Merle grew up as a member of the First Christian Church, Miami, OK, and once married became a member of First Assembly of God Church, Miami, where he taught the College & Career Sunday School Class. Upon his move to Tahlequah, OK, he attended various churches in the area but his heart never moved from First Assembly of God Church, Miami, OK. Merle loved sports of all kinds. He coached many recreational sports including Men’s Fastpitch Softball, Men’s Basketball, Babe Ruth Baseball and Little League Baseball. Merle also served many years umpiring softball and baseball games. If he wasn’t on the ball field, he was being the neighborhood mechanic. He enjoyed tinkering with cars and was a wonderful shade-tree mechanic. Visitation is 6-8PM on Monday, January 15, 2018 at Brown-Winters Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Miami. Services will be 2:00 PM at Cooper Memorial Chapel at Brown-Winters Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Miami on Tuesday, January 16, 2018. Friends and family may send the family notes of encouragement by viewing Mr. DeMier's Tribute Page at www.brown-winters.com.

Merle John DeMier

September 29, 1935 - January 12, 2018