Melverne Morse

Melverne (Mel) Charles Morse, 93, passed away November 29, 2011 at Lexington Park Care Facility. Mel was born on December 5, 1917 in Salina, Kansas the eldest son of Joseph Jerome Morse and Dorothy Snyder Morse. Mel spent his childhood in Salina and attended Kansas State University. He married Jane Stark of California, Missouri on September 2, 1936. Jane passed away in 2002, the 66th year of their marriage.

Mel worked for Boeing Aircraft in Wichita building B-17 and B-29 bombers during WW II. Mel and Jane brought their family to Topeka in 1952 and they have resided there since. Shortly after moving to Topeka he took a job as a mortgage originator with Prudential Investment Co. and remained with that local company until he retired in 1983. Many of those years he also built houses, developed small commercial real estate, and with partner Stan Simon converted apartments into for-sale condos. Mel was an inveterate optimist. Throughout his long and productive life he approached all of life's activities with a confident, positive attitude.

Mel was very active in the Otterbein United Methodist Church, now New Hope United Methodist Church singing in the choir, teaching a Sunday school class, and occasionally as a lay preacher. He always had a passion for horses, particularly American Saddle Bred horses which he trained and showed across the state.

Mel was preceded in death by his brother J. J. Morse, Jr. and a grandson, Joseph Scott Morse. Mel is survived by two sons, Allen (Patsy) and Phil (Lona), four grandchildren, nine great grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild. Memorial services will be held at New Hope United Methodists Church, 8th and Grandview, Monday, December 5, 2011 at 1 PM. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to New Hope United Methodist Church.