Merle Furnas

Merle W. Furnas 1929 2006 Merle W. Furnas, 76, of South Coffeyville, Oklahoma, died Monday, May 1, 2006, at St. Johns Hospital in Tulsa. Mr. Furnas was born June 13, 1929 in Coffeyville to Hervey Edgar Ed and Hazel Lucille Furnas. He grew up in Coffeyville where he attended Whittier Elementary School, Roosevelt Junior High and graduated from Field Kindley in 1947. On April 15, 1951, he married his high school sweetheart, Betty Lou Schiler. They were married 55 years. They lived in Coffeyville until four years ago when they built a house on Road 3 in South Coffeyville. He was a member of the Tyro Christian Church. He served in the United States Army from September 7, 1951 to June 17, 1953 with an Honorable Release from Active Duty as Corporal. Mr. Furnas Moe as everyone knew him, went to work for Farmland Coop Refinery in September of 1947 working 42 years until his retirement in February of 1989 with the exception of his time spent in the Army. He was a pipe fitter for 35 years. Then after his heart surgery in 1982, he worked in the Lab and on the Gatehouse at the time of his retirement in 1990. Mr. Furnas was very active in the Masonic Lodge of Coffeyville and Edna, Kansas. He joined Keystone Lodge 102, of Coffeyville on November 24, 1975, was raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason on January 14, 1976 at Keystone Lodge in Coffeyville. He was admitted as a plural Lodge Member at Edna Lodge 345 on January 3, 1990. He became a Perpetual Life Member of Keystone 102 on November 8, 2000. He was Master of Coffeyville and Edna Lodges in 1984 and served a second term as Master of Edna Lodge in 1992. Brother Merle was a District Deputy Grand Master of District 23 and was appointed Grand Lecturer of Kansas in 1990 and was appointed Grand Representative of Kansas to York England in 2001. He is survived by his wife, Betty Lou of Coffeyville, one son, Michael W. and wife Brenda, of Dewey, Oklahoma, daughter, Judith Ann of Coffeyville, grandson Christopher Adam of Coffeyville, and one brother, Loren Lee Furnas and wife Rosetta, of Hot Springs, Arkansas. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother Clarence of Parsons, Kansas. His greatest joys in life were his grandson, Christopher and his motorcycle trips to Florida with his wife, Betty Lou. Visitation will be Thursday, May 4, 2006, 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. The family will receive friends and relatives from 7:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Thursday at Penwell-Gabel Ford-Wulf-Bruns Chapel. Funeral Services will be Friday, May 5, 2006, at 10:00 a.m. at Penwell-Gabel Ford-Wulf-Bruns Chapel in Coffeyville. Pastor Kevin Mote will be presiding. Burial will follow in Fairview Cemetery in Coffeyville. Memorial Contributions can be made to Parkinsons Disease and left with the funeral home. To leave a special message for the family online, visit www.penwellgabel.com. Masonic Rites will be conducted by AF amp; AM Keystone Lodge 102 of Coffeyville.