Merle D. Kelley, 87, formerly of Clarion passed away Tuesday, January 3, 2012 at the Rehabilitation Center of Belmond. Funeral services for Merle Kelley will be held at 10:30 AM on Monday, January 9, 2012 at the First United Methodist Church, 201 3rd Avenue North East in Clarion, with Pastor Don Morrison officiating.  Burial will be at Evergreen Cemetery in Clarion.  Visitation will be held on Sunday, January 8, 2012 from 5:00 – 7:00 PM at Ewing Funeral Home, 602 North Main Street, in Clarion. Merle is survived by his wife, Myra of Belmond; daughters Marilyn (Fred) Schnell of Eagle Grove, Patricia (Keith) LaRue of Clarion, sons Michael, Myron (Nho) of Novato, California and Merle J. of Wingina, Virginia; grandchildren Nancy (Doug Harkema) Schnell, Brenda (Kevin) Adams of Eagle Grove, Christopher (Amy) LaRue of Des Moines, Iowa, Keith A. (Lyndsey) LaRue of Greenbrier, Arkansas,  Cody LaRue of Clarion, Thuan Nguyen, Hai Nguyen, and Sarah Kelley all of Novato, California;  great grandchildren Lindy (Joel) Collins, Brandon Evje, Hailey Adams all of Eagle Grove, Jude and Dane LaRue of Des Moines, Kyrstin LaRue of Greenbrier, Arkansas: great great grandchildren Abigail, Mary, Keylyee Collins, and Kaylynn Kepler all of Eagle Grove; sister Verneva (Rea) Roe of Waukee, Iowa: sister-in-law Barbara Kelley of Carlisle, Iowa.  He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers William "Bud" Kelley, Elmer and wife Beverly Kelley. Merle Dwight Kelley was born September 22, 1924 in Des Moines, Iowa to Ver Kennedy and Mary Lucinda (Hammond) Kelley.  Merle enlisted in the United States Navy during WWII. On November 18, 1944 he was united in marriage to Myra Madolyn Luse.  He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy on November 25, 1945. Merle operated a Standard Oil station in Dexter, Iowa before moving to Eagle Grove in 1952 where he was employed at D & B Motors as a car salesman. Several years later he again operated a Standard Oil station in Clarion. After retiring Merle & Madolyn spent many winters in Mission, Texas where they enjoyed bird watching and visiting with other "winter" Texans.