Kenneth Merle Oates
Kenneth Merle Oates, of Groesbeck, passed away at Limestone Medical Center on Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2019, at age 77.
A memorial service celebrating Kenneth’s life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 26, at Victory Baptist Church in Groesbeck, with Pastor Ben David Watson officiating.
Honorary pallbearers will be Bill Galyean, Joe Gonzalez, Chris Henson, Danny Hewitt, Jessie Jackson, Kelly Kilpatrick and Gene Robinett.
Kenneth Merle was born Aug. 29, 1941, in Merkle, to William John Oates and Mary Vernon (Lummus) Oates. He grew up in Groesbeck and graduated from Groesbeck High School in 1959. Groesbeck friends as well as family knew him as “Merle.” He served in the U. S. Navy from 1963 through 1967.
Kenneth Merle was united in marriage with Charlotte Jean Jenkins on Jan. 12, 1971, in Mexia. They made their home in Groesbeck. Merle was a smart man of many talents. He had a career for many years in the repair of business machines, and also sold life insurance. When he retired from that, he opened “Oates Firearms and Sporting Goods” store in Groesbeck; and when he closed it he worked as a jailer for the Limestone County Sheriff’s Department. Merle was a member of Victory Baptist Church of Groesbeck.
Kenneth Merle was preceded in death by his parents, William and Vernon Oates; son Travis William Oates; granddaughter Michayla Nicole Jackson; brother Gerald Oates; and brother John Wayne Oates.
He is survived by his wife, Charlotte Jean Oates, of Groesbeck; daughter Sandy Lundenberg, of Groesbeck; daughter and son-in-law Shannon and Shawn Weishuhn, of Rowlett; three granddaughters and grandsons-in-law Rachel and Daryl Elmore, of Groesbeck, Stacy and Clint Peery, of Groesbeck, and Carley and Caleb Fraley, of Rowlett; and five great-grandchildren.
Visit groesbeckfuneralhome.com to leave messages of condolence on the guestbook.
