Merleen Della Dean, age 76, resident of Ft. Scott, KS, died Friday, September 04, 2020, at her home. She was born on April 7, 1944, in Canastota, NY, the daughter of William Harris King and Emma Wilma Kolar King. She married Stephen Dean on January 28, 1961, in Peterborough, NY. She worked as a teacher’s aide, cooked for various restaurants in Parsons, KS, and ran her own daycare. Merleen enjoyed gardening, cooking, watching Fox News and the Hallmark Channel, and spending time with her grandchildren. She was a member of Eastern Star and the Emmanuel Baptist Church.
Survivors include her husband Stephen of the home; a son, James Dean, Ft. Scott; a daughter, Julie M. Van Becelaere and husband Ted, Monticello, MO; a sister, Karen King, Jamestown, NY; 5 grandchildren, Will Dean, Jerry Eddings, Micky Eddings, Rex David Lawhorn, and Rebekah Van Becelaere; 7 great grandchildren, Cody, Canton, Will Jr., Ariel, Kenzly, Noelle, and Rex James; and 5 step great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a sister, Lois Kilroy; and her parents.
Pastor Larry Stevicks will conduct funeral services at 11:00 am Wednesday, September 9th, at the Emmanuel Baptist Church. Burial will follow in the U. S. National Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 Tuesday evening at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to Emmanuel Baptist Church and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
