SCRANTON, Kan. – Merle Norene Parsons, 85, of Scranton, Kan., passed away Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025, at her home. She was born May 22, 1940, in Belton, Mo., the daughter of Murl Sullivan and Bertha Marie (Criqui) Sullivan.
She attended Washington Rural High School, Topeka, Kan.
She was united in marriage to Larry Parsons, Sept. 26, 1964, in Topeka, Kan. They shared more than 55 years of marriage before the passing of Larry, July 25, 2020.
Merle worked as a cashier at Walmart, in south Topeka. After 23 years, she retired from Walmart July 9, 2021, due to a car accident.
She had been a member of the Trailriders Saddle Club and numerous square dance clubs. She also enjoyed doing needlework, including cross-stich and quilting. Merle was an avid bingo player.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Murl and Bertha Sullivan; a daughter, Lynne Fogel; twin sons, James “Jimmy” and John Patrick McDaniel; a son, Larry Dean Parsons; daughter-in-law, Ramona Parsons; two brothers, Joseph and Gene Lafferty; a sister, Mildred Baker; and a granddaughter, Randi Crosby.
Surviving family include daughters, Sherry Rogers, of Lyndon, Kan., Miriam Avise, Kanopolis, Kan., and Michelle Parsons, Topeka; sons, Philip Parsons and wife, Mitzie, Scranton, and Earl Parsons, Scranton; son-in-law, Ken Fogel, Lebo, Kan.; brother, Owen “Jim” Sullivan and wife, Pat, Scranton; nine grandchildren; and numerous great and great-great-grandchildren.
Graveside services and interment will be 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 10, at Scranton Cemetery, 16348 S. Lewelling Rd., Scranton.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Scranton Fire Department and sent in care of Lamb-Roberts-Price Funeral Home, PO Box 194, Burlingame, KS 66413. Condolences can be left at www.lamb-roberts.com.
