Merle Davis Darst passed from this life Wednesday, March 27, 2002, at the age of 85. She was born November 12, 1916, to Irving and Bessie McDaniel Davis in the Jefferson County, Oklahoma area. Mrs. Darst was affiliated with the Baptist Church. She is preceded in death by her husband Gordon Darst.

Survivors include: two daughters - June Jones of Marlow, OK, and Jo A. Wilson and her husband John of Hagerman, NM; one brother - Harold Davis of Oklahoma City, OK; six sisters - Mildred Shaw of Ft. Worth, TX, Altena Cook of Waurika, OK, Jean Hardy of Marlow, OK, Betty Jones of Seminole, OK, Billie Reese of St. David, AZ, and Faye Smith of Petrolia, TX; seven grandchildren; and ten great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Irving and Bessie Davis, her husband, Gordon Darst, and two brothers, Albert Davis and Doyle Davis.

Graveside services for Mrs. Darst were held at 4:00 PM, Monday, April 1, 2002, in the Waurika Cemetery with Gene Jorgenson officiating. Burial in the Waurika Cemetery was under the direction of Dudley Funeral Home of Waurika.