Merle Levi Tally

Merle Levi Tally was born on July 21, 1941 in Clarinda, Iowa. He was the third child of six children born to the family of Melvin L. and Lera V. (Snively) Tally. He passed peacefully on August 26, 2026 at the age of 85 at Oak Pointe of Maryville, Missouri.

Merle attended the Peace and Harmony one room school east of Skidmore and graduated from Skidmore High School in 1960. He worked for Chase Bag in Kansas City and later the Missouri Department of Transportation based in Skidmore. He then began farming full time with his parents east of Skidmore.

After Melvin passed in 1983, Merle continued to farm and lovingly cared for his mother until her passing in 1999. In May of 2020 during the Corona virus outbreak, Merle moved to Oak Pointe. There he was blessed with friends and loving caretakers. From his early youth, he was a regular and faithful member of the Skidmore Christian Church where he attended regularly until the last few weeks of his life.

Merle was proceeded in death by his parents, sister Barbara Osburn, brother Lewis Tally, brother-in-law Donald Osburn, brother-in-law Gary McIntosh, brother-in-law Larry Stephens, one niece, and one nephew.

He is survived by sister Melva McIntosh of Graham, sister Betty Stephens of Columbia, sister Debby Derr and husband Gregg of Burlington Jct., and sister-in-law Melinda Tally of Mound City. He is also survived by seven nieces and nine nephews, and nine great-nieces and twenty great-nephews.

Arrangements are under the care of Bram Funeral Home. A visitation will be held at Bram Funeral Home on Monday, August 31, 2026 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. The funeral service will take place on Tuesday, September 1, 2026 at the Skidmore Christian Church at 10:30 am. Burial will follow at Nodaway Memorial Gardens in Maryville, Missouri.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Skidmore Christian Church or Tri-City Friendship Center.