Merrill William Christy, 96, of Parsons, died at 3:32 p.m., Thursday, April 29, 2019 at his home following a brief illness.
He was born December 30, 1922 on the family farm northwest of Oswego, KS, the son of William Andrew and Esther (Hallock) Christy. He attended Shiloh Grammar School and graduated from Labette County Community High School in 1941. He attended Kansas State University two years before enlisting in the Army Air Corps during World War II. After basic training he attended the University of Toledo as part of his Army Air Corps training. He was discharged in 1945 following the end of World War II.
On June 8, 1947 Merrill was united in marriage to Norma Lee Wiggins at the First Methodist Church in Oswego. They moved to Winfield, where Norma Lee resumed teaching kindergarten and he attended Southwestern College. He graduated from Southwestern in 1949 and they moved back to Oswego.
He was the financial business manager at Glen Berry Manufacturing Company in Oswego. While residing in Oswego he was a member of the First Methodist Church, the American Legion and a charter member of the Lions Club. He was the Sunday School Superintendent and saw the need for an educational wing of the church. Ground was broken for the new educational wing of the First Methodist Church April 25, 1954.
The family moved to Coffeyville in 1958 where Merrill was the operational manager and loan officer at the Condon National Bank. In Coffeyville he was a member of the First Methodist Church, the Lions Club, the Chamber of Commerce and served on the board of the Coffeyville Fair and Rodeo. He was on the Finance and Educational Committees and once again saw the need for an educational wing of the church and participated in the design and construction with the cornerstone being laid in October of 1963.
In 1974 the family moved to Parsons where he took over operations of the Christy Farms. In Parsons he was an active member of the First United Methodist Church, which later combined with the Washington Avenue Methodist Church to become Wesley United Methodist Church. He served many times as chairman of the Staff Parish Relations Committee, the Board of Trustees and the Finance Committee. He also served on the counting committee for many years. He was a member of the Growing Christians Sunday School Class serving as their treasurer. He was on the Building Committee when Wesley United Methodist Church was planned beginning April 1, 1979 and dedicated July 3, 1983. When the idea for the new addition to the church was formulated Merrill agreed to co-chair fundraising for the new structure which was completed in 1999.
In 1993 he received the Kansas Bankers Award for Soil Conservation and continued implementing soil conservation methods on the family farms. He and Norma Lee received the Farm Bureau Century Farm Award for three Labette Century Farms.
During his retirement years Merrill delivered Meals on Wheels, liked playing golf, hiking and riding mountain bikes with his family during summer trips to Colorado. He and Norma Lee enjoyed traveling in their motor home, going on cruises with friends, dinner clubs and playing bridge at the senior center. Important to him were visits from family and friends throughout the year and having the family home for the Christmas holiday season. The last few years were very special as he was able to spend time with the eight great-grandchildren ranging in age from six months to 10 years of age.
Survivors include his wife, Norma Lee, of the home; three children, Dr. Stephen H. Christy, Kansas City, KS, David W. Christy and his wife Nancy, of Montgomery, TX, Cynthia Christy Jimenez and her husband Milton of Merritt Island, FL; five grandchildren, John Christy and his wife Missy of Lake Quivera, KS, Ellen Christy Carter and her husband Glenn of Austin, TX, Andrew Christy and his wife Leslie of Lenexa, KS, Sarah Christy Doney and her husband Troy of Oceanside, CA and Neal Christy of Montgomery, TX; two step-grandchildren, Isaac and Herbert Jimenez of Black Mountain, NC; eight great-grandchildren, Lilly, Lincoln, Elodie and Sadie Christy of Lake Quivera, KS, Beatrix Carter of Austin, TX, Alice and Lewis Christy of Lenexa, KS and Clara Doney of Oceanside, CA. His sister, Ruth Christy Mock, preceded him in death.
Funeral Services will be at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, at the Wesley United Methodist Church, with Rev. Tim Bever officiating. Burial will be in the Oswego Cemetery with military honors given by Brown-Bishop Post No. 704, Veterans of Foreign Wars.
The family will receive friends at the church from 1 to 1:30 p.m., Saturday. Friends may also call during the day on Friday until 8 p.m., at the Carson-Wall Funeral Home.
Memorials are suggested to Wesley United Methodist Church or Kindred Hospice. They may be left at or sent to the funeral home at Box 942, Parsons, KS 67357. Online messages may be left at www.wallfuneralservices.com.
The family is very grateful for the incredible care given to Merrill by hospice and other caregivers the past six weeks.
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