Merrill A. "Barney" Bledsoe was born on May 23, 1923 in St. Joseph, and graduated from Clarksdale High School.

He married Helen M. McConnell, and she preceded him in death in 1993. Merrill later married Evelyn S. (Steger) Freund.

Merrill served in the United States Army from 1945 to 1968. He then worked as a civil servant for the federal government.

Merrill passed away at his Mound City, Missouri home on Monday, November 12, 2012 at the age of 89.

Merrill was preceded in death by his parents, Gordon W. and Phoebe J. (Shrewsbury) Bledsoe; and his siblings.

He is survived by his wife, Evelyn, of Bradenton, Florida; son, Gordon and his wife Elaine Bledsoe of Mound City;  daughter, Amanda and her husband James Jenkins of Oregon, Missouri; four grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.

Mr. Bledsoe has donated his body to medical science to further the education of medical students. A Celebration of Life Service and Ice Cream Social will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, November 17, 2012 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, #7 N. Carriage Drive, St. Joseph, Missouri.