Obituary of Mervin Corliss

Longtime Stratton resident Mervin Corliss passed away on January 30, 2007 at the Kit Carson County Memorial Hospital at the age of 77. Mervin Glen Corliss was born on April 7, 1929 to Sherman H. and Grace E. (Messing) Corliss in Hebron, Nebraska. He lived there until 1934. The family then moved to the ranch north of Stratton by the Republican River. He attended the Tuttle and Kirk schools. During his youth, his family attended the Four Square Church were he was also baptized. As a youth he was a member of the Settlement 4-H Club and loved to participate in rodeos. Mervin was drafted into the United States Army on February 19, 1949 in Denver, Colorado. He served in the Korean War. He had an honorable discharge from the United States Army on December 24, 1951 in Camp Polk, Louisiana. Mervin and Esther (Gramm) Corliss were united in marriage on March 7, 1954 at the Hope Congregational Church north of Bethune, Colorado. He joined the church and served as a Sunday School teacher and on the church board. To this union two children were born, Verlin and Nadine. Mervin was an active member of the Burlington VFW Post 6491 and also served for twenty-five years on the Arickaree Water Board. He is survived by his loving wife Esther, daughter Nadine Klassen, four grandchildren Krista, Stephanie and Wade Corliss, Kaylee Klassen and one step grandson Jon Klassen. He is also survived by his brothers, Lyal Corliss, Albert Corliss and wife Arnella, David Corliss and wife Betty, his sisters, Betty Guy, Doris Henry, Lois Henry, Mary Hasenauer and husband Clinton, Ruth Hampton, and one sister-in-law Virginia Corliss. He was preceded in death by his parents, Sherman H. and Grace E. Corliss, one son Verlin Corliss, one son-in-law Daryn Klassen and one brother Lowell Corliss. Mervin was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He will be missed by his many nieces and nephews, relatives and friends. Funeral services for Mervin were held on Friday, February 2, 2007 at 10:30 AM at the Hope Congregational Church with Pastor Carl Rogers officiating. Burial followed in the Hope Cemetery, Bethune, Colorado. Memorials may be made in Mervin’s name to the Burlington VFW Post 6491 or Hope Congregational Church and may be left at the First National Bank, Burlington, Colorado.