Obituaries

Merlin Wagner Sr.

Merlin Joseph Wagner Sr., 68, of Gautier, Miss., passed away Monday, March 17, 2014, in Silt, Colo. Mr. Wagner was born March 30, 1945, in Hammond, La., to the late Louis R. and Merva Wagner Sr. He was a longtime resident of the MS Coastal Area and business owner of Merlin Wagners Heating and Air in Pascagoula. Merlin was a member of Our Lady of Victories Catholic Church, a lifetime Elks member, Moose Lodge, Mobile Big Game Fishing Club, Rocky Mountain Elks Foundation, Ducks Unlimited, Rifle Snowmobile Club, Magnolia Car Club, Arrowhead Hunting Club. He was a man who believed in making the most of every day and living life to the fullest with his family and friends. Merlin cherished his friends as much as his family and was a loving and devoted, husband, father, grandfather and friend who made a lasting impact on those he met. Although the void is great, he has left many memories that cannot be taken away. He is survived by his wife, Janice Wagner, of Chattanooga; five sons, Joe Wagner and his wife, Tonya, of Pascagoula, Miss., Rodney Wagner, of Rifle, Colo., Kevin Wagner, of Pascagoula, Chris Wagner, of Lompoc, Calif., Matthew Wagner and his wife, Jennifer, of Summerdale, Ala.; stepchildren, Jamie Wilkey and his wife, Tonya, of Chattanooga, the late John Wilkey, and a daughter, Daphne Shilling and husband, John, of Rossville; a brother, Louis Wagner and his wife Sandra Ponchatoula, La.; six grandchildren; six stepgrandchildren and numerous friends. Graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 26, at Chattanooga Memorial Park in Chattanooga. Serving as pallbearers will be Rodney Wagner, Joe Wagner, Kevin Wagner, Chris Wagner, Jamie Wilkey and Jon Wagner. In lieu of flowers, memorial in his honor can be made to the American Heart Association, 1-800-242-8721 or www.heart.orgdonate. Condolences may be expressed online at www.obryantokeefe.com.

Published March 25, 2014

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