Merle Oran Tolbert

Funeral services for Mr. Merle Oran Tolbert, 90, of Longview will be held 10:00 A.M., Thursday, January, 29, 2015, at Croley Funeral Home Chapel in Gilmer with Larry W. Osborne officiating. Interment will be at Bokchito, Oklahoma under the direction of Croley Funeral Home on January 29, 2015. Mr. Tolbert passed away on Sunday, January 25, 2015 at Haven Care Nursing Home surrounded by his family. He was born on August 7, 1924, in Roberta, Oklahoma to William and Alma Tolbert. Merle and his four brothers were raised up behind a pair of Oklahoma mules cultivating the land their family share-cropped. Although he lived most of his life in Texas, Merle was an Okie at heart. Merle served his country during WWII in the Pacific Theater and upon returning to Oklahoma he married the love of his life, Wanda Elaine, in Durant, OK. They moved to Borger, TX. (soon after marrying) where Merle found employment with US Rubber, later becoming Phillips Copolymer Plant and he retired in 1979. They left the Panhandle and moved to East Texas (Gilmer) from 1979-1989) when they returned to the Panhandle after the loss of their daughter-in-law, Marilyn Tolbert, to help their son raise his young children. They shared 58 years together before her passing in 2005. Merle came to East Texas in 2011 to be near his son, Terry. Merle was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Wanda; three brothers, Charles Tolbert, Douglas Tolbert and Billy Joe Tolbert. He is also preceded by daughter-in-law, Marilyn Tolbert and a precious great-granddaughter, Kambry Tolbert. He is survived by two sons, Terry and Debbie Tolbert of Gilmer, TX and Gary and Sue Tolbert of Corsicana, TX, as well as a brother, Wayland Tolbert of Amarillo. Merle is also survived by four grandchildren, Travis and Becky Tolbert of Austin, Barry Tolbert of Dallas, Kristin and Andy Andreasen of Houston and Shane Tolbert of Houston; three step-grandchildren, Jamie and Wendy McAlister of Amarillo, Patrick and Natalie McAlister of Houston and Whitney and Wes Skierski of Dallas. He is Survived by his great-grandchildren, Kelsey and Brayden Tolbert of Dallas, Zoey Skierski of Dallas and Hallie McAlister of Amarillo.