Merrell Bradford Park, oldest son of Chester Bradford Park and Cornelia Merrell Park died on Easter Sunday, March 23, 2008 at the age of 90 years. His wife of 68 years had been with him and he acknowledged her peaceful comments shortly before he died.
Merrell was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey and attended school there until he was 8. The family moved to Tulsa January 1, 1925 from New York where he attended schools in Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Afton and graduated from Broken Arrow High School in May 1935. He attended the University of Tulsa and OSU Electrical Engineering School from 1935-1941 when he was drafted into the Navy. While in the Navy he attended the Aircraft Radio-Radar installation school in Corpus Christi, Texas.
On September 3, 1939 Merrell married Mary Ann Stockton at First Presbyterian Church with his father officiating.
Merrell began his career with the Bank of Oklahoma where he worked for two years. He then worked for Douglas Aircraft until he was drafted by the US Navy in 1943 where he served at the Airbase in Livermore, California. He was discharged from the Navy in December, 1945 and returned to Tulsa where he began working for Peat, Marwick and Mitchell as an accountant. In 1948 Merrell began working for Bovaird Supply Company where he served as Secretary / Treasurer and was on their Board of Directors. He retired from Bovaird after 28 years of service. Three years later he was recruited by the Petroleum Equipment Suppliers Association as the Tulsa Office Manager where he worked for 8 years before his final retirement.
Merrell was a member of Southminster Presbyterian Church where he had served as an ordained Elder since he was 24 years old first serving at Westminster Presbyterian Church. He was past Secretary of the Kiwanis Club of Tulsa, chaired the Texas-Oklahoma Kiwanis Club Convention in Tulsa in 1985, was the Key Club Advisor for Central High School, Kiwanis Clun Man of the Year and received the George E. Hixson Fellow Award of the Kiwanis Club as well as the Legion of Honor Certificate for 35 years in the Kiwanis Club where he served on numerous committees. He also served on the Board of Directors for the Y.M.C.A., the Tulsa Community Chest, the United Way. He was a past member of the Tulsa Club and the Petroleum Club.
Throughout Merrell's life he enjoyed traveling, not only throughout the United States, but all over the world. He also enjoyed snow and water skiing, Square, Round and Ballroom dancing and golf.
Merrell is survived by his wife, Mary Ann; his brother Chester T. Park of Tulsa; his daughter, Lynda Sue Park Hillier of Stillwater, OK and her two children Susan Lynn Richmeier of Garden City, Kansas and her husband Mike and Robert Brian Hillier of Allen, Texas and his wife Jennifer; his son, Jerry Ross Park of Atlanta, Georgia and his two sons Jarrett Ross Park of New York City, New York and Whit Park of Oklahoma City, OK. Merrell and Mary Ann also have three great grandchildren in Garden City, Kansas - Laura, Lindsey and Reid Richmeier.
A memorial service to celebrate Merrell's life will be 2:00 p.m., Friday, April 18th, 2008 at the Southminster Presbyterian Church in Tulsa.
The family requests that memorials be made to the Kiwanis Club of Tulsa Foundation, Tranquility Hospice, the American Canacer Society or Southminster Presbyterian.
Ninde Funeral Directors, Brookside Chapel.