05/27/18 — MERLE "SARGE" KEARNS

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MERLE "SARGE" KEARNS

May 15, 1929-May 23, 2018

Mr. Merle Emerson “Sarge” Kearns, 89, Mount Olive area resident, passed away at precisely the midnight hour, May 23, at Kitty Askins Hospice Center. 

Funeral services and interment will be private. 

Mr. Kearns, native of Foraker, Ohio, had served with the United States Air Force, retiring as a master sergeant after 20 years of service.

Following years were spent in various employments, including Southern Belle Restaurant and Motel, Borden Howell contractors, Brad Brock Farms and also cattle farming. 

He is survived by his wife, Phyllis Borders Kearns, whom he married July 2, 1951; three sons, William Russell “Rusty” Kearns and wife, Susan Katerina Kearns, of Houston, Texas, Lawrence Alan “Larry” Kearns of Mount Olive and David Allison Kearns and wife, Janet Kearns, of Rosewood; two brothers, John Kearns of Ohio and Raymond Kearns of West Virginia; two sisters, Etta Jane Smith of Maryland and Lorna Tripp of Ohio; five grandchildren, Melissa Kearns of Houston, Texas, Christopher Kearns of Pearland, Texas, Kyle Grey and wife, Kathryn Grey, of Wake Forest, Kasey Grey and fiancé, Mike Sander, of Pikeville and Daniel “Boone” Moody of Rosewood; six great-grandchildren, L.J., Laela and Levyn Walker and Leanna Marie, Elle and Felicity Grace Kearns; and several nieces and nephews. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Helen R. Kearns; a sister, Madeline Keel; and three brothers, Richard, Leslie Kay and Robert Kearns. 

A Tyndall service.

(Pd)

Published in Obituaries on May 27, 2018 3:05 AM