Merlin Clark

Merlin Clark, age 95, of Merlin Clark Farms, Inc., of Brookfield, died Monday, January 25, 2021, at Boone Hospital in Columbia.

Funeral services will be Saturday, February 6, 2021, at 1:30 p.m. at Wright Funeral Home in Brookfield with Pastor Charles Littrell officiating.  Burial will be in Park Lawn Cemetery in Brookfield.  Visitation will be Friday, February 5, 2021, from 6:00 until 8:00 in the evening at Wright Funeral Home in Brookfield.

Memorials to Central Missouri Honor Flight, Swan Lake American Legion Post #586, or Tiffany In-Home Services may be left at or mailed to Wright Funeral Home, P.O. Box 496, Brookfield, MO 64628.

Merlin Dwayne, son of Homer and Leo (Foster) Clark, was born, November 5, 1925, at Hogridge in Sumner.

Merlin began working at the young age of 14 as the janitor at the community house and Methodist Church in Forker.  Following his high school graduation in 1943, Merlin went to work for Santa Fe Railroad until he was called to the Merchant Marines in 1944.  He began his training in Brooklyn, New York then sailed around the world steering ships during World War II. They endured heavy artillery fire at Omaha Beach in France while carrying ammunition to the troops on shore as the whole coast was lit up with gunfire from the bombs.  The ship sustained damage but survived.

Merlin received the following medals: Mediterranean Middle East War Zone Medal, Atlantic War Zone Medal, Pacific War Zone Medal, medal from the King of France for liberating France in 1944, medal for all 4 beaches invaded, including Juno, Sword, Gold, Utah and Omaha Beach, Middle East War Zone Medal, Honorable Service Medal, Victory Medal, Presidential Testimonial Letter signed by Harry S. Truman, and Combat Bar.

Upon his return home, Merlin was united in marriage to Alice Lorene Ringland on April 29, 1944. Merlin and Alice made their home in rural Brookfield on the family farm and had two children, David and Dorothy. Alice preceded him in death on September 8, 2010.

Survivors include his daughter, Dorothy Johnson of Kansas City; three grandchildren, Kelly Highfill of Kansas City, Kansas, Dedra Schulte and husband, Cory of St. Louis and Ryan Clark and wife, Stacy of Rothville; seven great-grandchildren, Tanner Highfill, Kody Highfill, Allie Schulte, Addy Schulte, Andrew Schulte, Austin Schulte, and Tyler Clark; and one sister, Laveda Hill of Cape Canaveral, Florida.

His parents; wife, Alice; their son, David Clark; and granddaughter, Shannon Cordes preceded him in death.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Merlin Clark, please visit our floral store.