Merlin Clyde Harness

Merlin Clyde Harness of Overland Park Kansas, passed away on November 7, 2021.

Merlin was born November 28th, 1931 in Lincoln Township, MO to Henry Everett Harness and Nettie May Walkinshaw.

He was a loving husband, a fantastic father, a phenomenal grandfather, and overall, an outstanding man.  He loved visiting with family and friends and making any new friends along the way. He was driven to help whenever and whomever he could with little regard to his own well-being. While raising his own grandchildren, he was Grandpa to every child in the neighborhood. Merlin was a man of knowledge and a jack of all trades. He lent a hand on any project and gave a hand up to whomever he could.

He was drafted into the Army during the Korean war and was always very proud to have served. He was a long-time active member of Cross Points Church and a faithful follower of Christ. Merlin liked to do crossword puzzles, absorbed educational magazines, read the dictionary for fun, and meditated on the Bible. He spent over 40 years teaching for the Shawnee Mission School District with a love of Math and Science. He was dedicated to his after-school club, which included model rockets and astronomy. Never one to be idle, he continued to work painting houses into his 80's.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Beverly Jean Harness, his parents Henry Everett and Nettie May Harness. All his 11 siblings Herbert, John Henry, Sarah Jean, Richard Dee, Shirley Maxine, Paul, Ray Walkinshaw, Marvin Clark, William David, Anita Carolyn, and Larry Byland.

He is survived by his children, Terry Harness and Jana Taylor, his grandchildren Melissa Clark (Greg), Jody Harness (Gary), Candice Aranjo (Timo), Cameron Harness, Aaron Taylor (Ashley), and Matthew Taylor (Dana), and his 14 great-grandchildren.

Services will be held Sunday November 28th, 2021 at 1:30 pm at Cross Points Church, 6824 Lackman Rd, Shawnee, KS 66217.  Services will be live streamed on Cross Points YouTube and Facebook Pages for those who cannot join us in person. (crosspointskc)

Graveside Service to follow at 3:00 pm at Johnson County Memorial Gardens, 11200 Metcalf Ave, Overland Park, KS 66210.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in his memory to Cross Points Church, 6824 Lackman Rd, Shawnee, KS 66217 or the Alzheimer's Association, 3846 West 75th St, Prairie Village, KS 66208 http://act.alz.org/donate .