Melvin J. Finley, 97, Raymore, Mo. passed away September 27, 2015 at Foxwood Springs Care Center in Raymore. Funeral Services will be held at First Baptist Church of Grandview at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, October 2. The family will receive visitors between 10-11 a.m. at the church. Burial in Belton Cemetery, Belton, Mo. Melvin was born September 23, 1918 in Adrian, Mo. to Roy and Clara (Prettyman) Finley. He graduated from Adrian High School in 1936 and briefly attended Central Missouri State College in Warrensburg. He returned to Adrian and worked in the family business-Finley Truck Lines-before going to work at Boeing in Wichita at the beginning of World War II. While at Boeing he met his future wife, Verna, to whom he was married for over 64 years. Melvin enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1943 and served in the 718th Amphibious Tractor Battalion, where he drove a tractor and engaged in the battles of Leyte Gulf and Okinawa in the Pacific Theatre. After WW II, Melvin and Verna lived briefly in Kansas City before residing in Grandview, Mo. for almost 50 years. While living in Grandview Melvin worked as a route salesman for Curtis Candy Co. before beginning an almost 25-year career with the U.S. Postal Service in Grandview, where he retired in 1980 as Assistant Postmaster. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Grandview for 64 years and served that body in a number of capacities including Sunday school teacher, trustee, and deacon. Melvin was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Verna, a brother, Gerald, and two sisters, Fredia Buck and Leta Buck. Survivors include two sons, Mike Finley of Overland Park, Ks., and Greg Finley (Sandee) of Garden City, Mo., eight grandchildren, Matt (Lacey) Finley of Shawnee, Kans., Zach (Katie) Finley of Chicago, Ill., Josh Finley of Chicago, Ill., Olivia Finley of Kansas City, Mo., Davis Finley of Kansas City, Mo., Timothy, Phoebe, and Annika Finley of Garden City, Mo., and three great-grandchildren, Audra and Katie Finley of Shawnee, Kans., and Reagan Finley of Chicago, Ill. The family suggests contributions to the First Baptist Church of Grandview. The family would like to express its gratitude to the staff of Foxwood Springs for the wonderful care provided to Melvin for the past three years. Condolences may be left at www.mcgilleygeorgegrandview.com Arr: McGilley & George Funeral Home 816-966-0250 McGilley & George Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Dignity Memorial
Published in Kansas City Star on Sept. 30, 2015
- See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/kansascity/obituary.aspx?n=melvin-j-finley&pid=175970675&fhid=11270#sthash.iqMuWTv7.dpuf