Merlyn Lee Whiteside passed away peacefully at home with family by his side on February 5, 2025. He was born to Leland and Marian Whiteside on September 24, 1946, in Waverly, IA, and grew up on a farm near Packard. Merlyn graduated from Greene High School in 1964 and attended North Iowa Area Community College in Mason City and Ellsworth College in Iowa Falls, where he studied electronics. Merlyn worked for Western Union in Chicago, IL, until he enlisted in the Air Force in 1967. He served 3 years at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, OH, and one year in Vietnam. Merlyn married his high school sweetheart, Mary Schoenfeld, in 1967. He would say that his motorcycle caught her eye more than his slicked-back hairstyle.

After his discharge, they moved to Marshalltown, IA, and were blessed with three children. Merlyn worked 13 years for Fisher Controls and was transferred to Georgetown, TX, in 1984 where he continued his career there as an electronic technician, until he retired in 2015.

Merlyn loved the Lord and was a loyal member of Crestview Baptist Church in Georgetown. He enjoyed woodworking, playing cards, hunting, boating, yard work, riding motorcycles, and spending time outdoors. He was very much a 'handyman' and could do almost anything around the house. Hiring outside help was not in his DNA.

Merlyn was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Allan Whiteside, of Charles City, IA. He is survived by his loving wife, Mary, of 57 years of Georgetown; daughter, Tanya (Travis) Hall of Omaha, NE; daughter, Shari (Gene) Champion of Georgetown, TX; son, Chad (Kelley) Whiteside of Houston, TX; granddaughters Cora (Gabriel) Gonzalez of Taylor, TX; Jenna (Graeson) Griffin of Waco, TX; grandsons, Luke & Sam Whiteside of Houston, TX; and brother, Ronald (Martha) Whiteside of Clarksville, IA.

The family would like to thank Altus Hospice and HelpGivers for their exceptional attentiveness and kindness while caring for Merlyn in his final days.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to Crestview Baptist Church in Georgetown, Texas.