Merle King, 77, Adrian, Missouri, died Tuesday, July 21, 2015 at Adrian Manor in Adrian. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, July 27 at the Atkinson Funeral Home in Adrian, with burial in Freeman Cemetery, Freeman, Missouri. Memorial contributions may be made to the Adrian Volunteer Fire Dept.

Merle was born June 7, 1938 in St. Joseph, Missouri, the son of Clarence and Myrtle (Whittington) King. He had lived in Freeman, Missouri for 30 years before moving to Adrian. He married Elizabeth Darlene Shadwell on March 11, 1961. Merle worked for Yellow Freight for 20 years, as an over-the-road truck driver, until his retirement.

Merle was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Myrtle King, one sister, Rosalie Campbell, and an infant son, Michael, all of Freeman, Missouri. He leaves his wife, Darlene King, Adrian Missouri; son, Bill King and wife, Becky, Chilhowee, Missouri; daughter, Dana Plough, Kansas City, Missouri; 10 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren, along with many more family and friends to live out his legacy.