Marion "Mert" Arthur Fail's Obituary
Marion “Mert” Arthur Fail, age 88, of Garnett, passed away Thursday, May 26, 2016 in Garnett, Kansas. Marion was born on January 20, 1928 just East of Altoona, KS. He was the son of George Roy and Bessie May (Ramp) Fail. In 1949 he married Ruby Marie Chalker and from this union had five children. They divorced in 1971. In 1972 he married Nancy Dunaway, who survives him. From this union he gained a Son and Daughter.
At the age of 17, Marion entered the Navy and served from 1945 to 1947 as a fireman on the USS Saratoga. Marion was a hard worker starting from growing up on a farm in Rural Altoona to jobs stacking bricks in Washington, Oregon and then unloading box cars in Portland, Oregon.
Eventually he applied his drive and work ethic towards managing grocery stores. Marion was very good at business and innovative thinking and had the ability to take a store that was in trouble and turn it profitable. He did this for stores all over Kansas and one in Oklahoma. Then on October 3, 1982 he purchased the IGA store in Chanute, which he owned and operated until his retirement in 1990.
Marion was known as a storyteller and prankster and if he was teasing you, that meant he liked you. In his spare time, of which there was little, he enjoyed being outdoors fishing or woodworking. In his younger years he enjoyed playing baseball and was a member of a bowling league.
Marion is survived by:
Wife:
Nancy Fail of the home
Sons:
Jeff Fail of Garnett, KS
Mark Fail and wife Jeanne of Kansas City, MO
Mike Dunaway and wife Terri of Wichita, KS
Daughters:
Cheryl Detwiler and husband Mike of Ottawa, KS
Cathy Brummel and husband Dave of Garnett, KS
Paula Mader and husband Fred of Ottawa, KS
Vicky Alcock and husband Steve of Frisco, TX
15 Grandchildren and 27 Great Grandchildren
Marion was preceded in death by his parents; brothers: Don R. Fail, William Fail, Louis Fail, and Ivan Fail; sisters: Reva Jean Amrine, and Juanita Fusco.
A Funeral Service will be held at the First Christian Church in Chanute on Friday, June 3, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. Visitation will be on Thursday, June 2, 2016 from 5-7 p.m. at Countryside Funeral Home - Johnson Chapel. Online condolences may be left at: www.countrysidefh.com. Memorials have been suggested to the Crossroads Hospice and may be left with or mailed to the funeral home. Interment will be in Altoona Cemetery in Altoona, KS. Services have been entrusted to: Countryside Funeral Home 101 N. Highland, Chanute, KS 66720.
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