Merle Melvin Clark, 89, of rural Fairfield passed away on Wednesday, February 22, 2023, at the Mahaska Partnership Hospice House in Oskaloosa.

Merle was born on April 16, 1933, at the Washington County Hospital in Washington, Iowa, the son of Jerry and Manie (Aldridge) Clark. He attended Brighton school and had to quit 6 months before his graduation in order to help his father on the family farm. Merle served his country in the United States Army during the Korean War. Merle was united in marriage to Dorothy L. Stauffer in Brighton and from this union three children was born, Debra, Jerry and Julie. After their divorce he was united in marriage to Mary Vivian Dunkin, on January 1, 1981, in Mountain Home, Arkansas. After 39 years of marriage she preceded him in death on August 23, 2020.

Merle farmed in the Pleasant Plain area for a number of years. He loved his dog Shep, and enjoyed taking rides on his ranger.

He is survived by his children, Debra Cox, Jerry Clark and Julie Kyle, his step children, Janice Munson, Ed Hessenflow, Joyce Clark, David Hessenflow and Julie Ann Adams, several grandchildren and great grandchildren, one sister, Betty Clark, along with his dear friends, Dave and Cherie Horras.

Merle was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Mary, one stepson, Everett Hessenflow and four sisters, Mildred Bekel, Eunice (Geraldine) Jones, Wilma Essary and Mabel Goettsche.

Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 2, 2023 at the Howard Grove Cemetery west of Pleasant Plain with Pastor Danny Cary officiating. Friends may call from 2 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday at the Murphy Funeral Home of Mt. Pleasant. A memorial has been established in his memory.