Merl J. Swayze, Jr., 59, of Erie, went to heaven at 3:25 p.m., Sunday, December 27, 2015.
He was born January 19, 1956 in Parsons, Kansas to Merl J. Swayze, Sr. and Catherine L. (Dixon) Swayze. He grew up in Parsons where he attended Washington Elementary School. He then attended Labette County High School in Altamont and graduated from Parsons High School in 1974. He then earned an Associate degree in Business Administration from Labette Community College.
He worked at the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant, Swift's, and Dayton Superior. He then worked as a meat cutter at Greaves Nu-Way and Ron's IGA, in Parsons and Chanute. Merl owned and operated Circle T Meat Locker in Parsons and The Rock Place at 59 and 47 Junction near Erie.
He attended Excelsior House of Prayer near Erie. Merl was an ordained minister and loved studying the Bible. He enjoyed fishing, writing and singing songs about his grandchildren, and playing and coaching baseball. He was a proud Papa and enjoyed spending time with his family. In earlier years, he tried out for the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team and was cut #22 out of 150. As a youth, he was a Boy Scout and in later years was active as a scout leader.
Survivors include:
Mother – Catherine Swayze rural Erie, KS
One Son – Merl J. Swayze, III and his wife, Tara Tulsa, OK
Two Daughters – Mindy Swayze Parsons, KS
Mandy Hillmon and husband, Ben Chanute, KS
Ten Grandchildren – Hannah Swayze, Kaylyn Swayze, Ashton Swayze, Bailee Manues, Austin Swayze, Kiera Swayze, Kylee Swayze, Laney Hillmon, Kimrey Swayze, and Mailey Hope Hillmon
Two Brothers – Rocky Swayze and wife, Gaylene Erie, KS
Gene Gilley and wife, Jenifer Parsons, KS
Five Sisters – Brenda Elsworth and husband, Mike Erie, KS
Robin Fuentez and husband, Joe Parsons, KS
Rhonda Murphy and husband, Tom Altamont, KS
Missy Page and husband, Rob Oswego, KS
Bambi Swayze Parsons, KS
Twenty Nieces and Nephews
He was preceded in death by his father, Merl J. Swayze, Sr., on March 20, 2010.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, December 31, 2015 at the Excelsior House of Prayer. Burial will be at the Swayze Family Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6-8:00 p.m., Wednesday, at the Excelsior House of Prayer.
Memorials are suggested to help defray funeral expense. These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357.
Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Merl J. Swayze, Jr., please visit our flower store.
He was born January 19, 1956 in Parsons, Kansas to Merl J. Swayze, Sr. and Catherine L. (Dixon) Swayze. He grew up in Parsons where he attended Washington Elementary School. He then attended Labette County High School in Altamont and graduated from Parsons High School in 1974. He then earned an Associate degree in Business Administration from Labette Community College.
He worked at the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant, Swift's, and Dayton Superior. He then worked as a meat cutter at Greaves Nu-Way and Ron's IGA, in Parsons and Chanute. Merl owned and operated Circle T Meat Locker in Parsons and The Rock Place at 59 and 47 Junction near Erie.
He attended Excelsior House of Prayer near Erie. Merl was an ordained minister and loved studying the Bible. He enjoyed fishing, writing and singing songs about his grandchildren, and playing and coaching baseball. He was a proud Papa and enjoyed spending time with his family. In earlier years, he tried out for the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team and was cut #22 out of 150. As a youth, he was a Boy Scout and in later years was active as a scout leader.
Survivors include:
Mother – Catherine Swayze rural Erie, KS
One Son – Merl J. Swayze, III and his wife, Tara Tulsa, OK
Two Daughters – Mindy Swayze Parsons, KS
Mandy Hillmon and husband, Ben Chanute, KS
Ten Grandchildren – Hannah Swayze, Kaylyn Swayze, Ashton Swayze, Bailee Manues, Austin Swayze, Kiera Swayze, Kylee Swayze, Laney Hillmon, Kimrey Swayze, and Mailey Hope Hillmon
Two Brothers – Rocky Swayze and wife, Gaylene Erie, KS
Gene Gilley and wife, Jenifer Parsons, KS
Five Sisters – Brenda Elsworth and husband, Mike Erie, KS
Robin Fuentez and husband, Joe Parsons, KS
Rhonda Murphy and husband, Tom Altamont, KS
Missy Page and husband, Rob Oswego, KS
Bambi Swayze Parsons, KS
Twenty Nieces and Nephews
He was preceded in death by his father, Merl J. Swayze, Sr., on March 20, 2010.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, December 31, 2015 at the Excelsior House of Prayer. Burial will be at the Swayze Family Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6-8:00 p.m., Wednesday, at the Excelsior House of Prayer.
Memorials are suggested to help defray funeral expense. These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357.
Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Merl J. Swayze, Jr., please visit our flower store.
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