Merrell Dayne Dilks

Merrell Dayne Dilks was born to Eolie Earl and Ledona Blanch (Cochran) Dilks on July 3, 1925, at Temple, OK, the fourth of eleven children, and departed this life in Siloam Springs, AR, on April 26, 2013. He grew up and attended school at Temple, OK, graduating from Temple High School in 1942, at the age of 16. Merrell was the first Temple Oklahoma boy to attend Oklahoma Boys State at the University of Oklahoma in Norman in 1941. The registration fee was $15, which was paid by three local organizations - American Legion $5, Temple Chamber of Commerce $5, and Temple Rotary Club $5. Merrell Dilks and Russell Fletcher were fortunate enough to have Merrell's 8th grade teacher's brother, Harold Ruyle, take them to and pick them up from Boys State. Merrell was the Secretary of the 1942 Temple Future Farmers of America Chapter which received the Gold Emblem Chapter Award, the highest award in the nation. There were only two chapters that received this award that year, Temple, Oklahoma, and Stamping Grounds, Kentucky. Merrell was the first Oklahoma FFA member to exhibit a grand champion barrow and a grand champion pen of three barrows at the Fort Worth Fat Stock Show in 1944. For the next 1-1/2 years after graduation from high school, he attended Harem Business School in Oklahoma City for 3 months, worked at First State Bank in Temple for 3 months, and then worked a year for Failing Exploration and Drilling Company of Houston, Texas. He was drafted into the Navy on August 9, 1944. He served during World War II in the Southwest Pacific theatre. Upon leaving the service, Merrell entered college at Oklahoma A&M in the fall of 1946. As a senior he was in the top 10% of his class, and was selected to be in the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. He graduated with a B.S. degree in agricultural education in 1950. He was then the Vocational Agriculture teacher at Tryon for 4 years, from 1950-54, and then at Meeker for 9 years, from 1954-63. Merrell married Mary Elizabeth Meek on January 9, 1960. Merrell was Superintendent of Schools in Carney for 2 years, 1963-65, Walters for 9 years, 1965-74, and Binger for 13 years, 1974-87. Merrell loved education and kids - he loved his job! If there was a school event going on, he was there. He was a teacher - he taught Julie Zisman to walk and Ian(ford) Fryer how to ride a bicycle. He retired and lived in Walters from 1988 to 2002. He lived in Oklahoma City from 2002-06, Rogers, AR, from 2006-09, Bentonville, AR, from 2009-12, and Siloam Springs, AR, from 2012-13. Merrell and Mary celebrated their 50th anniversary on January 9, 2010. Merrell was always active in the community. He attended and was a member of the Methodist Church wherever he lived. He was Sunday School Superintendent in Walters for eight years. He was President and Secretary of the Meeker Lions Club. Merrell was also in Rotary Club from 1965-2006. He served as President in Walters twice, and in Binger twice. He was a Paul Harris Fellow. Merrell was a people person - one that cared a great deal about relationships. He was the one who always called all his brothers and sisters to stay in touch. He organized monthly family dinners at the Furr's cafeteria in Lawton when he lived in Walters from 1988-2002. He called and got all his living brothers and sisters to attend the 100th anniversary of Temple First Baptist Church. When a group of Rotarians traveled to Australia and New Zealand for a month, he organized reunions for the next six years. Merrell was the glue that held families and organizations together. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary, his parents, two of his sisters, Clorice Barnett and Jean Powell, and three of his brothers, Billie Dilks, Donnie Dilks, and Otho Dilks. Survivors include one son and daughter-in-law, Dayne and Karen Dilks of Fayetteville, GA; one daughter and son-in-law, Maribeth and Craig Reisbeck of Siloam Springs, AR; one grandson and one granddaughter, Clayton and Elizabeth Reisbeck of Siloam Springs, AR; one step granddaughter and husband, Melissa and Gary Wright of Fayetteville, GA; one step grandson, Mitch Wainwright, of Butler, GA; four step great grandsons, Aaron Hartley Wright and Christopher Wright of Fayetteville, GA, Johnathan Wainwright and MJ Wainwright of Butler, GA,; one step granddaughter, Alli Wright of Fayetteville, GA; two brothers, Darrell Dilks of Guthrie, OK, and Charlie Dilks of Warner Robins, GA; three sisters, Doris Kay Humphries of Bloomfield, NM, Ann Cable of Fletcher,OK, and Judy Butler of Dixon, CA; and many other relatives, friends, and former students.