Merle Matthews Obituary

Description: Merle Matthews Obituary... Our Heartfelt Condolences To His Loved Ones...

June 3rd, 1932 – November 9th, 2024

Obituary

Merle Olive Matthews died peacefully on Saturday, November 9, 2024, in Florence, Colorado at the Bruce McCandless Colorado Veterans Community Living Center at the blessed age of 92. Merle was born in Shell Knob, Missouri on June 3, 1932 to Murble and Monnie Matthews. His family moved to Colorado in his early years and eventually settled in Crowley, Colorado where he graduated high school. Soon after graduation, he joined the Navy and was stationed at Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii as an aviation electrician. After leaving the Navy, he worked at the Pueblo Army Depot on missile systems repair and maintenance. Because of his skill and knowledge, he was sent to Japan as an instructor in accordance with the U.S. and Japan Mutual Defense Agreement. During this time he met and married Edna L. Marksberry on June 8, 1958. Together they had four children and made their home in Canon City, Colorado. Merle chose to build a career in law enforcement after leaving the Pueblo Army Depot. He served as the Marshall in Crowley and Olney Springs, Colorado, a sheriff deputy for the Fremont County Sheriff Department, and retired as a police officer from the Canon City Police Department. Even after retirement he continued in the field of law enforcement as a correctional officer at the CDOC Arrowhead facility where he retired again. Furthermore, he served and retired from the Colorado National Guard. He eventually moved to Texas to be near his daughter Diane and her family. There he met many new friends and enjoyed going to church and school functions with them but after many years moved back to Colorado to live with his daughter Terri and husband Spanky. In April of 2024, Merle moved into the Bruce McCandless CVCLC where he quickly befriended fellow veterans and won the hearts of many employees and staff.

Merle loved the mountains, fishing, hunting, bird watching, his cats and dogs, photography, and journaling his trips. His biggest love was being a father, grandfather and great grandfather.

Merle was preceded in death by his father (Murble), mother (Monnie Mae), brothers (Clyde and Ed), sister (Helen Doris "Lyn" Griffin), and grandson TJ Van Hauen.
He is survived by his wife Edna L. (Marksberry), children Sheree (Lance) Van Hauen, Terri (Charles Jr "Spanky") Persinger, Patrick (Tamie) Matthews, and Diane (Michael) Ramsay, grandchildren Joshua (Victoria) Matthews-Patton, Catelin Matthews, Michael (Amy) Kibel, Mitch (Sarah) Kibel, Matthew (Amanda) Kibel, Tyrel (Jennifer) Matthews, Rusti Ramsay, Gabriel (Sarah) Ramsay, Kade Ramsay, Tallon Ramsay, and Raif Ramsay, and numerous great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins. We will hold him in our hearts and will never forget how he shaped our lives. We have a solace knowing that we will see him again one day in heaven.

Follow SECO News on Facebook.
Subscribe to the SECO News YouTube Channel.