Service: Graveside at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 2, at the National Cemetery in Fort Scott, Kan., under the direction of Brenner Mortuary, Pittsburg, Kan.
Merlin Dean McCool, 85, of Pittsburg, Kan., died at 6:19 p.m. Wednesday, March 26 (2014) at Medicalodge South of Pittsburg.
He was born March 19, 1929, at Pittsburg, Kan., to John Alvin and Nancy Louise (Kelley) McCool. He lived most of his life in the Pittsburg and Frontenac, Kan., areas. Also, he had lived briefly in Arizona, Arkansas, California, and Missouri. Mr. McCool attended schools in Kansas and Missouri and graduated from Pittsburg High School in 1947. In mid life, he went to college and received an Associate’s degree from Fort Scott Community College in 1975. Then he went on to Pittsburg State University where he received his BSED in 1976, MSED in 1978, and a Specialist in Education degree in 1982, all with a major in Industrial Arts Education. He taught woodworking classes to mentally retarded adults at Missouri State School in Nevada, Mo., for four years.
Mr. McCool served in the U.S. Navy from August 1947 to August 1951, where he attained the rank of Electrician’s Mate 2nd Class. He served in the Korean War from June 1950 until the spring of 1951 aboard troop ships and was involved in some of the major invasions and evacuations during that time. He joined the Navy Reserves in 1952 and later volunteered for active duty in 1953 and served two years aboard the aircraft carriers USS Randolph and USS Hornet. It was while aboard the Hornet that he got to make his first cruise around the world from Norfolk, Va. to San Diego, Calif. Visiting ports in Portugal, Italy, Suez Canal, Ceylon, Singapore, and the Philippines. After his release to inactive duty in 1955, he returned to Kansas.
Upon his return to Kansas, he was employed by Helio Aircraft Company in Pittsburg as an assembler, inspector and was eventually promoted to Final Assembly Inspector for the FAA. He worked for Helio for over 25 years. He had previously worked for Cessna and Boeing Aircraft companies in Wichita. After leaving the teaching field in 1984, he returned to Helio as Quality Control Manager and Production Control Manager briefly. In 1987, he went to work as an inspector for the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant in Parsons until his retirement in 1992. Mr. McCool worked briefly for Wabash Wood Products in Harrison, after moving there in 1998.
Mr. McCool married Melissa Emogene Taylor, of Frontenac, Kan., formerly of Mountain View, in 1957. They had no children and were divorced in 1991. She survives.
He was baptized and joined the St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in the early 1950s. He also attended the First Church of the Nazarene in Pittsburg, Kan., and was a Sunday school bus driver there for several years.
He is survived by several nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews. Also surviving is his friend and caretaker, Darrell House, who has been with him for many years.
Merlin was preceded in death by his parents; nine brothers, Lynn, Lewis, Dwight, Robin, Alvin, Alan, Norval, Ray and Richard; and a nephew, John and niece, Geraldine.
A graveside memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 2, at the National Cemetery in Fort Scott, Kan., with the Rev. Jim Sukraw officiating. Burial will follow services. Friends are requested to meet at the cemetery. The family suggests memorials be given to Wounded Warriors. These may be left at or mailed to the Brenner Mortury, 114 E. 4th St., Pittsburg, KS 66762.
Friends may also leave condolences online at www.brennermortuary.com.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Brenner Mortuary, Pittsburg, Kan.
