Merrill Leroy Paden

Merrill Leroy Paden, age 91, of ElDorado, passed away October 20, 2015. He was born February 21, 1924 at Meade Co., KS to Joseph and Pearl Pontius Paden. Visitation will be held 1-8 PM Sunday, October 25, Smith Mortuary, 1415 N Rock Rd., Derby, with family receiving friends 5-7 PM. Graveside services will be held Monday, October 26, at Graceland Cemetery, Meade, KS. Merrill was preceded in death by his first wife, Alice Bessie Green Paden, who died in 1973, and a daughter Jacquelin Gay Tipton. Merrill married Marjorie June Garett Paden in 1980. Marjorie died in 2006. Merrill and his sisters referred to themselves as the Paden Five. Norma Locke, Elona (Sally) Bruce, Elsie Beavers and Esther Birk Osborn preceded him in death. Merrill was a farmer and worked for many years for Getty Refining and Marketing Company in ElDorado. He is survived by his daughter, Sandra "Sue" (Warren) Schrader, of Wichita; grandchildren Keith (Kaisha) Schrader, of St. Louis, MO, Aaron Schrader, of Wichita, and Jeremiah (Cecilia) Tipton, of San Diego, CA and great-grandchildren, Areila, Rheannon and Devaney Schrader, Savannah Schrader, and Lucas Tipton. Merrill lived his last years at Vintage Place in ElDorado where he had many friends. He was respected and loved by his family and his many friends.