Obituary for Merrill Frank Toms
Merrill Frank Toms, 91, a lover of books, a world traveler and a teller of stories who lit up every dinner party within reach, died in Edina, Minn., on Aug. 13, 2020.
Merrill is survived by his wife of 51 years, Elisabeth (Verleye), daughter Vanessa (Doug) Glass, grandchildren Colin and Elinor, sister Clyda (Wally) Lange, brothers Warren (Karen), John (Marlene) and Kyle (Janice) and many nieces and nephews. Born in Kansas City, Mo., to Annabelle Matlock & Cedric Durfee Toms, Merrill was the fourth of 10 children. He was preceded in death by brothers Howard (Marian, Velma), Gerald (Sally), Ronald (Verna), Dale (Gayle) and infant brother Lloyd.
Merrill graduated from Kansas City’s Northeast High School in 1946 at age 16, and celebrated with a solo trip to Mexico City and a part of the world he would return to often. He attended Kansas City Junior College for two years and completed his bachelor’s in Latin American studies and Spanish at the University of Missouri-Columbia. He was a member of Lamba Chi Alpha fraternity along with his older brother, Ronald.
After graduation, Merrill lived in Central America for two years, working for Singer Sewing Machine until called into service by the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Afterward, he returned to Central America for the international division of Vendo Company. Living in Guatemala, Nicaragua and Honduras, and traveling throughout the region, Merrill spoke Spanish like a native and was not CIA, as some suspected.
In 1958 he became a commercial officer for the Belgian Consulate General in Kansas City where he worked for 7 years. He then returned to school and received a master’s degree in Library Science from Emporia State. Merrill worked for the Kansas City Public Library from 1967, starting in the business and technical department, until he retired in 1995 as associate director in charge of branch libraries.
Merrill cared little for sports but followed the stock market and CNBC as intensely as his neighbors followed the Chiefs or Royals. As an investor he took the long view -- “Buy and hold,” he would say -- and his expertise helped safeguard the interests of employees of Kansas City’s library system and public school district during his 21 years of service on the management committee and as a trustee of the Kansas City Retirement System.
A Toms family gathering could be bewildering for newcomers, with so many brothers eager to talk, and listen, and enjoying both. Merrill took a back seat to no one, and while many stories were told more than once, they were always worth hearing again. He was a raconteur.
Merrill was a member of El Club Interamericano, a Spanish-speaking social group, for more than 50 years. His curious mind did not slow down after retirement, as he continued his study of French and took up Italian for fun at La Causerie. Retirement also afforded more time for daily coffee meetings with his best friend, Joe Callaghan, along with occasional gatherings of fraternity brothers, travel, and always the next book
If you too love books, or enjoyed Merrill, donations may be made to the Kansas City Public Library, 14 W. 10th St., Kansas City, MO 64105, or https://kclibrary.org/support. The Toms family thanks Brookdale staff and the hospice team for their care of Merrill.
We would like to thank Brookdale and the hospice staff for their care of Merrill.
Merrill is survived by his wife of 51 years, Elisabeth (Verleye), daughter Vanessa (Doug) Glass, grandchildren Colin and Elinor, sister Clyda (Wally) Lange, brothers Warren (Karen), John (Marlene) and Kyle (Janice) and many nieces and nephews. Born in Kansas City, Mo., to Annabelle Matlock & Cedric Durfee Toms, Merrill was the fourth of 10 children. He was preceded in death by brothers Howard (Marian, Velma), Gerald (Sally), Ronald (Verna), Dale (Gayle) and infant brother Lloyd.
Merrill graduated from Kansas City’s Northeast High School in 1946 at age 16, and celebrated with a solo trip to Mexico City and a part of the world he would return to often. He attended Kansas City Junior College for two years and completed his bachelor’s in Latin American studies and Spanish at the University of Missouri-Columbia. He was a member of Lamba Chi Alpha fraternity along with his older brother, Ronald.
After graduation, Merrill lived in Central America for two years, working for Singer Sewing Machine until called into service by the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Afterward, he returned to Central America for the international division of Vendo Company. Living in Guatemala, Nicaragua and Honduras, and traveling throughout the region, Merrill spoke Spanish like a native and was not CIA, as some suspected.
In 1958 he became a commercial officer for the Belgian Consulate General in Kansas City where he worked for 7 years. He then returned to school and received a master’s degree in Library Science from Emporia State. Merrill worked for the Kansas City Public Library from 1967, starting in the business and technical department, until he retired in 1995 as associate director in charge of branch libraries.
Merrill cared little for sports but followed the stock market and CNBC as intensely as his neighbors followed the Chiefs or Royals. As an investor he took the long view -- “Buy and hold,” he would say -- and his expertise helped safeguard the interests of employees of Kansas City’s library system and public school district during his 21 years of service on the management committee and as a trustee of the Kansas City Retirement System.
A Toms family gathering could be bewildering for newcomers, with so many brothers eager to talk, and listen, and enjoying both. Merrill took a back seat to no one, and while many stories were told more than once, they were always worth hearing again. He was a raconteur.
Merrill was a member of El Club Interamericano, a Spanish-speaking social group, for more than 50 years. His curious mind did not slow down after retirement, as he continued his study of French and took up Italian for fun at La Causerie. Retirement also afforded more time for daily coffee meetings with his best friend, Joe Callaghan, along with occasional gatherings of fraternity brothers, travel, and always the next book
If you too love books, or enjoyed Merrill, donations may be made to the Kansas City Public Library, 14 W. 10th St., Kansas City, MO 64105, or https://kclibrary.org/support. The Toms family thanks Brookdale staff and the hospice team for their care of Merrill.
We would like to thank Brookdale and the hospice staff for their care of Merrill.