Harlis Wayne Merryman

1931 - 2015

Harlis Wayne Merryman, passed from this life October 8, 2015 in Talihina, Oklahoma. He was born to Gabe Harlis and Eva Jane (McGee) Merryman on August 15, 1931 in Bengal, OK. Wayne was their fourth child, after, Denver, Oleta, and Jimmy. Wayne was 11 months old when his mother passed away. When Wayne was four years old his dad married Zoa Jane (Pat) Justice, she was the only mother Wayne ever knew and they loved each very much. Gabe and Pat had five children, Charlie, Harold, Myron, Harlis and Mary.

Wayne graduated from Leflore High School in 1949. He enlisted in the Army in 1951 and served in Korea, earning numerous medals and an honorable discharge in 1953. Using the GI Bill he enrolled at Eastern Oklahoma College and graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma with Bachelor's and Master's Degrees, doing post graduate studies at the University of Oklahoma.

On January 29, 1954 Wayne married Edith Kathryn Gregory in McAlester, Oklahoma. Three boys were born to them, Mitchell Wayne, Mark Gabe, and Matthew Gregory.

Wayne was preceded in death by his parents, his second mother Pat, son Mark Gabe, sister Oleta, and brothers Denver, Jimmy, Charlie, Harold, Myron, and his grandson Gabe Levi, and numerous other uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews and cousins.

He is survived by sons Mitchell Wayne and Matthew Gregory; grandchildren Rachel Jane Kasper (Charles), Jessica Rose, Meghan Leigh, Kathryn Tess, Gabe Colahan, Milo Gabe, and Echo Marie. Great-grandchildren, Makayla Merryman, Jaegan Levi and Dexton Liam Kasper; and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews, and adopted family member Charlie James.

Wayne was a legendary high school basketball coach, coaching both boys and girls teams. He was National Coach of the year in 1984 and Oklahoma Coach of the Year for both girls and boys high school basketball. He was inducted into the Oklahoma Basketball Hall of Fame for both boys and girls and the National Basketball Hall of Fame. When he retired in 1990 Wayne had the most victories of any high school basketball coach in the nation.

Wayne served as High School Principal and basketball coach for 34 years; 1 year at Panola, Ok, 3 years at Whitesboro, OK, and 30 years at Colbert, OK. He was always an educator first, and a coach second.

His service will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday October 13th, 2015 at the Old Colbert High School gym in Colbert, Oklahoma. His private interment will be at the family cemetery on their farm in Bengal, Oklahoma under the direction of Burkhart Funeral Service of Talihina.