Merle Devere Kern

Merle (Ted) D. Kern, son of Cecil and Lottie (Hosler) Kern, passed away January 9th 2024. Ted was born June 8th, 1934 in the family home near Denison,in Jackson County, Kansas.

Ted was a brick mason and owned and operated Merle Kern Masonry for 25 years and then owned Kern's Topsoil for 20 plus years before retiring. He always had a project in mind, so he never really retired.

Ted married Delores Carolyn (Morelock) Kern. She survives, as well as two sons, Creston (Roberta) Kern and Galen Kern, daughter-in-law Terri and grandchildren Jesse Kern, Jodi Kern and Cassidy Kern. His sisters, Lee Collins and June Ducello, also survive. He was preceded in death by his son,Nick, who passed away in September of 2023, and his brothers, Don,Bob,Sam and sister, Thelma Whitesell.

Ted was the definition of orneriness; he loved to pull jokes and pranks on people. One of his favorites was putting velcro on the top of his car and on the bottom of his coffee thermos. He loved watching people drive up and let them tell him he left his coffee on top of his car. They would run up to the car to find out the thermos was attached to the car!

Ted was out on the strip (Kearney St.) in Springfield, MO with his wife's family. He was hanging out with his brother- in-law, Dennis. Dennis wanted to race Ted, so when the light turned green, the race was on. Unknown to both of them, a state trooper saw them, and turned his lights on! Luckily they were close to home, so they took off for home. Dennis waited for the state trooper in the driveway. Merle ran in the house and took his shoes off, and sat back in the easy chair. The state trooper walked to the front door and yelled, "Get your shoes on! You can't fool me!"

When going to a farm/equipment auction, he would place empty bank envelopes in random places around and watch someone pick them up to be fooled by a tissue.

He knew how to entertain himself!

How Ted met Carolyn, written by Carolyn

We met in March of 1957. I had come to Denison KS with my cousin, to aid my aunt as she needed some help because of an arm injury. I was from Springfield, Mo.
Ted worked for my uncle, Jesse Slavens, as a brick mason. He heard that Uncle Jesse's niece was at Jesse's and she was an attractive blonde.

Ted just happened to have car trouble with his 1957 Golden Hawk Studebaker right in front of Jesse's house. I asked my aunt who the guy was having car trouble. She said," That is Ted Kern, who works for Jesse". I really liked his car.

Well, I guess Uncle Jesse must have had the right tool. Ted met me, fixed the car, and went on his way. But he came back and asked me for a date. I told him I already had a date at 7:00 that night, but Ted got there at 6:00 so I went with him. Uncle Jesse told the other guy I Ieft with Ted Kern. We saw the musical, "Oklahoma," on our first date at the movies.
On our date, I wore white gloves that was the style in the 50's. I thought every girl wore white gloves and matching shoes. Ted's brother said Ted was going with a prissy girl from Missouri.

We dated for about 4 months. Ted was always breaking a $100 bill on our dates. (That changed when we got married!) We were married, June 28th, 1957, at Stillwell, Oklahoma. On our 50th Wedding anniversary, Ted told me that his car was not broke.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 20, 2023 at Parker-Price Funeral Home, 245 NW Independence. The family will receive friends at the funeral home one hour prior to the service. Burial will be in Rochester Cemetery.

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