Mervin Buell McDaniel, age 92, of Linn, passed away Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, at Oak Tree Villas in Jefferson City. Mervin was born Sept. 28, 1932, a son to the late Ray B. and Julia (Gove) McDaniel in Linn. He was united in marriage to Ruth Marie Kliethermes, Oct.3, 1953, at St. George Catholic Church in Linn.
Merv graduated from Linn High School in 1951. He joined the U.S. Air Force immediately following high school and was honorably discharged in 1959. He then worked for McDonnell Douglas in St. Louis until returning to Linn where he operated the Shell station. In 1964, he was appointed as sales agent for the American Family office in Linn, where he worked until retirement in 1998. For numerous years, he was active with the Linn Lions Club, and was a member of St. George Church.
Merv loved all things baseball. He was a talented pitcher in high school, later coaching his son’s Little League team, and remained a lifelong supporter of the St. Louis Cardinals. He was also an avid Missouri Tigers fan. He enjoyed attending sporting events for his children and grandchildren, time with family, golfing with friends and family, boating on the Osage River, and fishing all over Missouri. He loved watching John Wayne movies, Gunsmoke, and Blue Bloods.
Merv was preceded in death by wife of 69 years, Ruth; parents, Ray and Julia; in-laws, Andrew and Cecilia (Luebbert) Kliethermes; sister, Mildred Gabriel; sisters-in-law, Carol “Dolly” Dubrouillet and Patty Rohan; and brothers-in-law, Willis Gabriel, Edward Dubrouillet, Peter Rohan, Anthony “Bob” Kliethermes and Andrew “Sonny” Kliethermes.
He is survived by children, Merva Lea (Kevin) Koenig of Crossville, Tenn., Debbie (Tom) Bonnot of Littleton, Colo., Jeanne (Glenn) Walther of Lexington, Ky., and Mike (Carla) McDaniel of Bonnots Mill; grandchildren, Brother Nicholas Koenig, Laura (Kevin) Johnson, Benjamin (Samantha) Koenig, Matthew (Amanda) Koenig, Craig (Mindy) Bonnot, Brian Bonnot, Katie Cassmeyer, Samuel (Kristina) Cassmeyer, and Connor McDaniel; and great-grandchildren, Eleanor, Charlotte, and Lillian Johnson, Joseph and Julia Bonnot, Zoey and Jolene Koenig, and Tucker Cassmeyer; brother-in-law, James Kliethermes; and sisters-in-law, Dorothy, Margaret, and Elizabeth Kliethermes; as well as many nieces and nephews who were a big part of his life.
Visitation will be held Saturday, Feb. 8, from 9–11 a.m. at St. George Catholic Church in Linn with a Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 11 a.m. with Fr. Colin Franklin as the celebrant. Interment with full military honors will be in the St. George Parish Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made to St. George Catholic Church.
Arrangements are under the direction of Morton Chapel, Linn.
