Coons - Merle Fuson
MERLE FUSON COONS
Source: Waveland Independent, Thursday, October 3, 1940
Merle Fuson Coons, 56, member of the state house of representatives for three terms and candidate for reelection on the Republican ticket died at his home in Crawfordsville Saturday afternoon. He was the son of George W and Elizabeth Coons and was born near New Market. After being graduated from Wabash College he taught in various schools in the county and served 8 years as county superintendent of schools. Since retiring from the office he has represented the textbook firm of Webster Publishing of St. Louis in Indiana. Funeral services at the First ME Church Crawfordsville on Tuesday with burial in Indian Creek.
Source: Crawfordsville Journal Review 2 October 1940 p 1
Deeply impressive funeral services were held at the First Methodist Church Tuesday afternoon for Merle F. Coons, prominent C'ville reisdent who died unexpectedly at his home here on Saturday. The Rev. Allen b. Rice, pastor of the church officiated at the rites with Rev. John Hussey of Noblesville assisting. Burial was in the family lot at the Indian Creek cemetery. Abide With Me and Home of the Soul were sung by Mrs. Glen Swartz with Mrs. Roy Trout accompanying. Assisting at the services as active pall bearers were: Frank Simms; Frank Howard; Herman Wright; Ben Myers and Jerome Schultz, all of Crawfordsville and Albert Armantrout; Ernest Young and Byron Busenbark of New Market. The honorary pall bearers were: John Binford; John Ward and LJC Freeman of this city; Frank N. McHman of Columbus; Ben H. Watt of Noblesville, WP Johnson of St. Louis, Mo; Victor Wilson of Ypsilanti, Mi; and WO Wolf of Delaware Oh. ...Prominent among those attending the services were several members of the Indiana State Leg. with whom Mr. Coons had been associated the past 6 years. Also present at the rites were leading educators from a number of communities and other close friends from neighboring towns & cities. A 3-time member of the general assembly and former superintend t of Montgomery County Schools, Mr. Coons died of a heart ailment. He was 53 and had been ill but a few hours. Mr. Coons served as superintendet of the co. schools from 1920-1928 and as a member of the state legistlature from 1934 to 1940. He was a native of New Market and had been identified prominently with Mont Co schools 20 years. In addition to his work in the county schools and state legisluature, Mr. Coons also had been identified with the Webster Publishing Co. at St. Louis, Mo having served as Indiana rep for the company in recent years. Mr. Coons also was well known for his work in church and civic affairs, having been a former pres of the C'ville Kiwanis club, active member of 1st Methodist Church and Masonic Lodge. He was an ardent Republican and in the legislature had served as chairman of the Public Safety and Public Expenditures committees.
Source: "The Wabash " p 228 -- Merle Fuson COONS __ "Coons." admits being a pedagogue. Like others, he has not been a "steady" as far as his college course has been concerned, although the announcement of his coming marriage shows consistency in ac ertain other matter. He expects to teach nex tyear. He came to Wabash from the New Market HS -- very handsome picture