Merle E. Leech, Jr.
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Jun 04, 1941---Jan 08, 2020

Merle Leech, 78, passed away Jan. 8th, 2020. Services will be 10:00 AM Monday, Jan. 13th at Porter Funeral Home, 8535 Monrovia, Lenexa.

 

Merle Eugene Leech Jr. was born June 4th 1941 in Columbus Kansas and grew up in Oswego Kansas.

Merle was preceded by his parents Merle Eugene Leech Sr., Louise (Murphy) Leech and his wife Martha. No other relatives survive.

He was an Eagle Scout and spent several summers on the staff at Philmont scout ranch in New Mexico.

He was a graduate of Pittsburg State University with Bachelors Degrees in secondary education and social work and a MS in art. He was a member of Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity while in college. After teaching for a number of years on Long Island in New York he returned to the Midwest and entered social work for the state of Missouri.

Prior to retirement he was employed at Herff Jones, commercial printing company. 

In retirement Merle joined the Sons of Confederate Veterans and became active in Civil War re-enacting and the collecting of Civil War artifacts and memorabilia. He enjoyed the hobby of re-enacting Civil War battles as a member of the Third Missouri Artillery group, camping and roughing it with friends who became like his family. Merle was a kind and gentle though somewhat quirky soul who will be missed by his friends, most especially by his close friend and caregiver Carl Linc. 

 

 

 


Condolences

Bill Vance Jan 12, 2020

Friend & classmate ,Parsons ,Kansas

Merle was a good friend & classmate.we started school together in the first grade. We grew up about two blocks apart. We played together & Merle family had the first color T V I remember seeing. We played football together in high school. Merle was always an excellent student. Rest in peace my friend, your teammates, classmates & friends will miss you.

Mark C Krug Jan 13, 2020

Family Friend ,joplin ,Missouri

It was sad to hear of Merle's passing. He was a dear friend of my father and he would speak of Merle often, sharing the stories of their times together. He was a creative artist, kind man and history buff. He will be missed.

Harvey Wolchan Feb 22, 2020

Condolences to the family. Merle was my teacher at the School of Visual Arts in New York in the early 1970's. He was a very mild mannered, soft spoken man that I have always remembered.

Joan & Arthur Sherman Jul 22, 2020

New York friend ,Fresh Meadows, Queens, NYC ,New York

Unfortunately, we are just hearing this news. While living in New York, we became friends with Merle. He visited us often, helped us paint our first home, as we helped him with his many moves, Manhattan to Long Island City, and Long Island City to Staten Island.. He did a drawing for the birth of my first son 38 years ago which still hangs on the bedroom wall, as does other of his silk-screening works. Of course we lost touch once he moved back home. The exchange of cards and notes became less and less as everyone moves along with their lives. But we will always remember his kind and gentle ways. And all of the fun and good times we shared. we are truly saddened.

maggie Mar 06, 2021

ex wife ,nyc ,New York

we were married for a short time and lived on greene street----after our divorce the building on greene street was sold and merle moved back to his home town and I moved to asia---he was a very kind lovely soul and one of the original members of 10 downtown

Services

Event:
Funeral Service
Location:
Porter Funeral Home
Address:
8535 Monrovia Street
City:
Lenexa
State:
Kansas
Zip Code:
66215
Date:
Jan 13, 2020
Time:
10:00 AM
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