MERRILL LYLE “MIKE” COMER

    Merrill Lyle ‘Mike’ Comer, youngest child of Fred and Edna (Bruner) Comer, was born May 9, 1930. Mike grew up near Kellerton and attended Crazy Hollow country school. The family moved to the Macksburg area and Mike graduated from Macksburg high school.
    After high school Merrill went on the road selling magazines which turned out to be a learning experience. Mike served his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Merrill married Elinore Shaffer. They lived in California and Merrill worked at Boeing Aircraft. He would eventually live in Washington and Oregon working in the orchards and logging. Merrill and Elinore later divorced. Mike returned to the Kellerton area and worked for Hallet Construction. He married Kathy Fifer and they later divorced. Mike would work several years buying and selling antiques. He also had an automotive shop rebuilding alternators and starters. After he retired from the shop, Mike was self-employed in property management.
    Mike loved trapping and coon hunting. He enjoyed the outdoors and enjoyed feeding his birds and squirrels. Mike went to auctions and would hit the local coffee shops to visit with all of his friends. He loved to eat out with family and friends. He enjoyed camping and flea markets.
    Mike passed away on June 22, 2012 at his home from the effects of a stroke. He was preceded in death by his parents; granddaughter, Tiffany, and his siblings, Claire, Larry, Joe, Frances and Lee.
    Survivors include his children, Rick Comer of Lake Havasu, Arizona, Pam Patton of Hoquiam, Washington, Penny LauRae of Huntington Beach, California, Mark (Tina) Comer of Kellerton, Iowa and Kim Monroe of Leon, Iowa; nine grandchildren, Jennifer, Kelly, Brandon, Jake, Jeffrey, Harlee, Gage, Dylan and Joel; a great-granddaughter Maliya; his companion, Neala Fish; other relatives, and many good friends.
    A visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, June 28, at Watson-Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Friday, June 29, at Bank of Christ Church in Kellerton with Pastor Barton Shields officiating. Casket bearers will be Myron Ingram, Harold Cooper, Marion Stark, Charles Fifer, Rod Kelley and John Brown. Honorary pallbearers were Chet Munyon, Bill Smith, Richard O’Dell, Randy Fox, John Worthington, Joel Monroe, Dylan Monroe, Jeffrey Brown, Danny Webb and Wayne George. Burial will follow in the Maple Row Cemetery with military rites by Kellerton American Legion Post #676.
    A memorial fund has been established in his name to be decided later.

ARTHUR DUANE HAWK
    Arthur Duane Hawk was born in Grand River, Iowa June 2, 1930 to Frank and Mary (Burchett) Hawk and departed this life on June 17, 2012 in Bolivar, Missouri.
    He graduated from Beaconsfield high school in 1947 and continued on to Washington, D.C. with schooling and employment with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
    He was married to Donella Sutherland July 3, 1948.  They had two sons, Larry Steven and James Burl. In 1952 they returned to Iowa where he was employed in Des Moines with the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company.  He enjoyed camping, hunting and fishing with family and friends. He and Donella celebrated 27 years of marriage before her fatal heart attack.
    In October 1976, Duane was united in marriage with Vivian Hosfield in Creston, Iowa. He retired from Firestone in 1982 after 30 years of service and they relocated to Hickory county, Missouri on Lake Pomme de Terre.  He was an avid fisherman and everyone in the neighborhood valued his advice on how to repair their boats or fishing equipment.
    He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Donella, his brother, sister and a step-granddaughter.
    Survivors include his wife, Vivian, son Larry and wife Carolyn of Des Moines, Iowa; son, Jim and wife Nancy of Saint Louis, Missouri; grandchildren, James T. Hawk and Melissa Hawk of Des Moines, Iowa; sister-in-law, Betty Hawk; stepchildren, Donna and husband, Raymond Shields of Diagonal, Iowa and Carolyn and husband, Rodney Shields of West Des Moines, Iowa; four stepgrandchildren, and four stepgreat-grandchildren.
    Visitation and services were held in Wheatland, Missouri on Tuesday, June 19 with Rev. Francis Leslie presiding.
    Graveside services were held  in  Grand River, Iowa on June 20 with Rev. Francis Leslie presiding and burial in the Grand River Cemetery. Casketbearers were Larry Hawk, Jim Hawk, James T. Hawk, Jason Shields, Aaron Shields and Mike Shields.

RICHARD EUGENE HULL
    Richard Eugene Hull was born September 26, 1950 in Maryville, Missouri to Glen and Clara Belle Hull. He passed away June 19, 2012 in the Albany hospital due to bad health. He was the oldest of four sons.
    Richard attended Blockton and Bedford schools. He also helped his parents on the family farm. He served three years in the United States Army. He spent time in Germany, the Viet Nam War and then back to Germany.
    On February 19, 1972 Richard married Ruby Morse. To this union three daughters were born, Rose, Betty and Barbara. They were married for 40 years. He worked on farms, had a welding and tire shop, drove truck over the road and later made horse carts. In 1989 at the age of 39 he had health problems and became disabled.
    Richard gave his life to God in 1990 and was baptized with his wife, Ruby, and daughters, Betty and Barbara. He enjoyed helping others and giving to others. He loved making things and giving them away.
    He was preceded in death by two brothers: Wilbur and Allen; grandparents and great-grandparents.
    He is survived by wife, Ruby of the home in Redding; three daughters: Rosie Miller and husband Shawn of Afton, Iowa, Betty Fields and husband Nick of Perry, Iowa and Barbara Strubberg and husband Andy of Saint Louis, Missouri; parents: Glen and Clara Hull of Blockton, Iowa; grandchildren: Clayton and Taylor Miller of Afton, Iowa, Austin Claypole, Zavier and Anicka Fields of Perry, Iowa and  Cassandra Bounds and  Joey Strubberg of Saint Louis, Missouri, and brother Bob Hull and wife Carolyn of Blockton, Iowa.
    Funeral services were held Saturday, June 23, 2012 at the Prugh-Dunfee Funeral Home in Grant City, Missouri. Rev. Scott Marcum and Rev. Len Green officiated. Interment was in the Athelstan Cemetery in Blockton, Iowa.