This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Sarver Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Fl.2ADE/1769 Message Board Post: Merrill Sarver Oskaloosa. Merrill M. Sarver, 96, of Oskaloosa, died Saturday, January 17, 2004, at the Mahaska Hospital in Oskaloosa. On May 18, 1907, he was born in Mahaska County, the son of Ernest E. and Margaret McDowell Sarver. He graduated from the Rose Hill High School, with the class of 1925. On September 24, 1927, he was united in marriage to Lydia Ann Winegardner at Sigourney, and she died April 2, 1996. In 1926, he started working for Oskaloosa Traction and Light Company, which later became Iowa Power and Light. He worked for Iowa Power for 47 years before retiring. He was a former longtime member of the Oskaloosa Kiwanis Club, the Eagles, and a former mayor of Beacon. He was a former member of the Beacon school board and the Oskaloosa school board. Merrill attended the Calvary Bible Church and the Beacon United Methodist Church. He was a devoted family man, and loved his acreage and raising a garden. Merrill is survived by 7 daughters: Roberta (& Dave) Wolfe of Vancouver, Washington, Betty (& Ben) Shaw of Sundown, Texas, Joyce Galloway of Ottumwa; Marsha (& Bob) Leffel of Eagle Point, Oregon, Connie (& Dennis) Kirin of Temple City, California, Carol McNeese of Oskaloosa, and Nancy (& Greg) Lauser of Prescott, Wisconsin; 8 sons: Wallace Sarver of San Gabriel, California, Larry (& Patty) Sarver and Roger (& Barbara) Sarver, all of Oskaloosa, Dan (& Susan) Sarver of Indianola, Edwin (& Glenys) Sarver of Oskaloosa, Stephen (& Diana) Sarver of Albia, Timothy (& Lynna) Sarver of St. Joseph, Missouri, and Curt (& Kristen) Sarver of Oskaloosa; 35 grandchildren, 50 great grandchildren, 2 great great grandchildren; a brother and his wife: J.W. “Bill” and Norma Sarver of Texarkana, Arkansas; and a sister in law: June Sarver of Oskaloosa. Besides his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents; 3 sons: Lonnie, David, and Jeffrey Sarver; 2 grandchildren: Dwight Richards and Susan Sarver; a brother: Edward Sarver; and a sister: Naomi Vander Linden. Funeral services for Merrill Sarver will be held Friday, January 23, 2004, at 10:30 a.m. in the Bates Funeral Chapel in Oskaloosa with the Rev. David Smiley officiating, assisted by the Rev. Doug Smiley. Burial will be in the University Park Cemetery at University Park. Memorials may be made to Mahaska Hospice. Visitation will begin at the funeral chapel on Wednesday after 4:30 p.m., and the family will be at the funeral chapel on Thursday from 6:30 – 8 p.m. to greet friends and relatives.