Merle Elaine Pyle, 1919-2018
Bethany, MO: Merle Elaine (Van Hoozer) Pyle, 99, Bethany, MO passed away Monday, December 3, 2018 at a Bethany, MO nursing home.
She was born on August 26, 1919 near Martinsville, Missouri the youngest daughter of Newton and Bessie (Ross) Van Hoozer. They preceded her in death.
All of her life was spent near Martinsville and Washington Center, attending grade school and high school at Martinsville. She attended college at Northwest Missouri State Teacher’s College for one winter and many summers lacking only one quarter’s work on her Bachelor of Science Degree in Education. She taught three years.
Merle was baptized into the Martinsville Methodist Church at an early age and was an active member for many years later attending Wesley Chapel and the United Methodist Church in Bethany.
On July 25, 1940, Merle was married to James Wilmer Pyle by Reverend E.P. Reed in his home in Bethany, MO. They had no children. That school year, they lived in Denver, MO while both taught in rural schools. In the spring of 1941, they moved to the farm on which they lived for over 50 years. Merle greatly enjoyed working side by side with Wilmer in the fields; first, the row crops then specializing in the raising of Hereford cattle. She greatly enjoyed raising a garden, tending the yard and many crafts but crocheting was her main hobby.
Merle belonged to the Order of the Eastern Star of New Hampton for several years, serving as Worthy Matron with Wilmer being her Worthy Patron in 1969-1970 and then transferred to the Bethany Chapter after moving in 1992. For a time, Merle was a member of a women’s quartet and chorus, Hobby Club Improvement; D.A.R., 20th Century Club, Garden Club, and Ladies Aid of Wesley Chapel.
She was also preceded in death by her husband, Wilmer Pyle on February 7, 1991; three sisters, Margaret Van Hoozer, Claire Parsons, Willa Mae Ayers; two brothers, Thomas and Max Van Hoozer and a nephew, Gary Max Van Hoozer.
Merle is survived by three nieces, Evelyn Weigel, Bella Vista, AR, Nancy Gillespie, St. Joseph, MO and Carol Shinpoch, Simpsonville, SC; nephew, James Parsons, Trenton, MO and several great and great-great nieces and nephews.
Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, December 7 at Roberson Funeral Home, Bethany, MO. Burial will follow in Walker Cemetery, Denver, Missouri. The family will receive friends from 10:30-11:00 a.m. Friday at the funeral home where friends may call after 8:00 a.m. Friday. Memorials may be made to Walker Cemetery and/or the First United Methodist Church of Bethany in care of Roberson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 46, Bethany, MO 64424. Online condolences may be left at www.robersonfuneralhome.com