Merle D. Stone, age 75, of Osawatomie, Kansas, died January 21, 2007 at Miami County Medical Center.

Merle was born September 19, 1931 in rural Osawatomie, Kansas. He was the son of Roby Hamilton and Esteleen Viola (Moraine) Stone. He grew up in Osawatomie and graduated from Osawatomie High School with the Class of 1949.

He worked for the Missouri Pacific Railroad shops as a machinist apprentice for seven years in Osawatomie in the early 1950s. He then went to work for the Rock Island Railroad in Kansas City, Kansas for several years.

Merle worked as a letter carrier for the United States Postal Service. He began working as a substitute carrier in 1959 and then became a full time letter carrier in 1963. In 1981 he became Superintendent of Postal Operations for the Osawatomie post office. He retired from the postal service in the Fall of 1989.

Merle joined Battery C, 1st Battalion, 127th Field Artillery on January 24, 1949 at Paola, Kansas as a wireman. He attained the rank of Corporal as a senior wireman and was discharged on January 4, 1953 to accept commission as 2LT, Cannon Field Artillery Officer. He served as Battalion Commander of 1st Battalion, 127th Field Artillery, headquarters in Ottawa from 1976 to 1980. After leaving Ottawa Battalion at state level he served as inspector general and in the intelligence section until his retirement. He was separated November 19, 1985 as Colonel with over 39 years of service to the Kansas Army National Guard.

He was married to Donna Marie Hewitt at Osawatomie on November 11, 1951. They made their home in Osawatomie and became the parents of five children. Donna preceded him in death on July 24, 1982.

He was married to Jo Anne (Brooks) Hays on February 19, 1983 at Overland Park, Kansas. They made their home in Osawatomie.

Merle was very active in the Masonic Lodge where he had served as master several years. He also served as District Deputy Grand Master of the Masons in District #6, Kansas Grand Lodge in 1971. He held a membership with the Scottish Rite Consistory, Fort Scott, Kansas since 1971. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Osawatomie. He was a member of the USD 367 Board of Education from 1965 until 1973 where he had served as president from 1966 to 1970.

Besides his first wife, he was preceded in death by his parents and two infant brothers. He is survived by his wife Jo Anne of the home; four sons Chester Stone of Emporia, Kansas, Wesley Stone of Iola, Kansas, Darryl Stone of Roswell, Georgia, and Damon Stone of Garnett, Kansas; his daughter LaVonna Bowman of Houston, Texas; his step-son William Ray Hays of Shawnee, Kansas; his step-daughter Brenda Jo Pfaff of Sacramento, California; two brothers Frances Stone of Albuquerque, New Mexico and Lloyd Stone of Olathe, Kansas; two sisters Thelma Springer of Offerle, Kansas and Dorothy Benner of Paola, Kansas; 10 grandchildren; 6 step-grandchildren; 1 great grandson; 5 step-great grandchildren; other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m., Friday, January 26, 2007 at the First United Methodist Church in Osawatomie with Masonic services conducted by Osage Valley Lodge #24 AF & AM. Burial will be in the Osawatomie Cemetery with military honors. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home in Osawatomie. Memorials are to Masonic Osage Valley Lodge #24 AF & AM and can be sent in care of the funeral home at P. O. Box 430, Osawatomie, KS 66064.