Joseph Arthur Merkey was born September 16, 1922, in Cloud Chief, Oklahoma. He was the third of six children born to Jacob Reno and Blanche (McKinney) Merkey. He departed this life on November 2, 2016, at Willow Park Memory Care in Boise, Idaho. Joe attended Lake Valley School in Oklahoma thru 11th grade. His father passed away when he was 15 years old and he then lived with his Uncle, David Merkey and his family, and graduated from Cloud Chief High School. Joe was baptized in the Washita Church of the Brethren, and was raised in a Christian home. He joined the Navy in 1941, and served six years in the Pacific, including the island of Midway, as a welder on a sub-tender. After his discharge in 1947, he returned to Oklahoma, where he farmed and lived with his Aunt Lydia Merkey, in the Cloud Chief area. He also worked as a heavy equipment operator for the County Commissioner of Washita County. On February 17, 1951, he married Melba Jo (Dietrich) Perry. They have two children. In 1955, he was selected as a heavy equipment operator to work on the Will Rogers Turnpike because of his skill dressing 2:1 grade slopes for the turnpike entranceways. He continued farming and in October, 1958, he drew a government homestead under the National Homestead Act and moved his family to Rupert, Idaho, in January, 1959. The farm was sagebrush which had to be cleared and developed into an irrigated farm. It was a work of pleasure and the family raised grain, hay, sugar beets, and Famous Idaho Potatoes. They also milked Jersey cows, and later he and Melba raised registered Simmental beef cattle. After the kids were grown and gone from home, Joe and Melba enjoyed many pleasant hours of snowmobiling including a winter trip thru Yellowstone Park. Joe was a 65-year member of the Masonic Lodge and a 65- year member of the Order of Eastern Star (OES). He was a past master of the Cordell, Oklahoma, Masonic Lodge and served several terms as Worthy Patron in the OES in Rupert and Burley, Idaho. This September he was honored to be selected to go on the Honor Flight for WWII Veterans to Washington, D.C., accompanied by his granddaughter, Tami McCurry. His favorite pleasure, pastime, joy, and work was farming which he continued to do and enjoy, until 2013, when he broke his back in an accidental fall down a flight of stairs. He spent three months in the hospital and rehab and returned to the farm to live his remaining years watching the sunrises and sunsets and the crops growing on the farm and occasionally driving a tractor. He is survived by his wife, Melba, of 65 years; his children, Gary (June) Merkey of Houston, Texas, and Judi (Mark) Lehrman of Boise, Idaho; grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Lori Merkey (Natalie, Katie), Rick Merkey (Kaytlyn, Kevin, Tatiana), Tami and Ace McCurry (Cailee Craft), Ambre and Ryan Zimmerly, (Allie, Nic, and Stephen), and Erin and Jake Timmerman; several great-grandchildren; two sisters-in-law, Betty (Jesse) Merkey of Cordell, Oklahoma, and Shirley (Edwin) Merkey of Gentry, Arkansas; special nieces and nephews, Diane (Tom) Ledford of Duncan, Oklahoma, Paula (Henry) Gonzalez of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Roxie Schade of Homer, Alaska, Mark (Debi) Merkey of Cordell, Oklahoma, Bill (Debbie) Merkey of Fletcher, Oklahoma; Randy (Cathy) Merkey of Bentonville, Arkansas, and Sandra Jo Moulton of Savage, Minnesota. Joe was preceded in death by his parents; all five of his siblings, Marietta, Edna, Marjorie, Jesse, and Edwin; and special nephew, Rick Merkey of Gentry, Arkansas. Funeral services were held Monday, November 7, 2016, at the Rupert United Methodist Church, Rupert, Idaho. Gathering and viewing for family and friends was held Sunday, November 6, 2016, at the mortuary. Burial with military rites was held in the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery. Services were under the direction of Joel Heward Hansen Mortuary, 710 6th Street, Rupert, Idaho. On line condolences may be left at hansen-mortuary.com. Memorials may be made to The Shriners Children’s Hospital or the Rupert Methodist Church or a charity of your choice.