Merlin Clifford “Skeet” Bevitt
Nov. 16, 1927 – June 20, 2020
TOPEKA — Merlin Clifford “Skeet” Bevitt died June 20, 2020, in Topeka. He was 92.
Skeet was born Nov. 16, 1927, in White City, the son of Merlin and Dessie (Hohman) Bevitt. He grew up near the Valencia and Silver Lake communities and in southern Shawnee and northern Osage counties. He attended Auburn High School.
He married his childhood sweetheart, Doris Parrish, in 1948 and they made their home in the Highland Park area of Topeka. There they welcomed two children, Karen and Steve, into their family.
While in Topeka, Skeet worked as a roofer for Warren Roofing and later as roofing superintendent at Whelan’s. The family moved to a farm north of Overbrook in 1963, where Skeet worked for Northbrook Lumber until he retired.
Doris passed away in 1987. He met Lotta Keefover through friends at a common card group, and they married in 1998. Lotta passed away in 2011.
Skeet found joy in weekly domino games at “The Patch,” in Overbrook, and traveling with friends on bus tours. He loved spending time with his family and supporting them in their interests and watching grandchildren and great-grandchildren grow and take interests of their own. He enjoyed being outdoors gardening and hunting (both pheasants and mushrooms). He often traveled with friends to attend the Belleville races and loved watching and listening to Kansas City Royals baseball and KU basketball. He had a fondness for puzzles and history and enjoyed reminiscing about family.
Skeet was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Marlene Ecklund; a brother, Bob; and a daughter, Karen and her husband, Jim Hesseltine.
He is survived by a brother, Harlan Bevitt, Burlingame; and a sister, June Bentley, Texas; a brother-in-law, Arthur (Shirley) Parrish, Anchorage, Alaska; a son, Steve (Lora), Burlingame; two stepchildren, Rick (Lynne) Keefover, Carbondale, and Lynn (Berry) Collier, Berryton; five grandchildren, Tim (Beth) Hesseltine, Andover, Kevin (Shawna) Hesseltine, Topeka, Tod (Wendi) Bevitt, Oskaloosa, Clayton (Stefanie) Bevitt, Burlingame, and Jaimie (Vance) Myers, Burlingame; five step-grandchildren, Lori (Andy) Fisher, Denver, Machell Collier, Seattle, Melissa (Wyatt) Mark, Lenexa, Amy Brown, Wichita, and Tyler (Leslee) Brown, Wichita; 11 great-grandchildren, Jordan (Brooke Stueve) Hesseltine and Hunter Hesseltine, Maura and Nathan Bruenger, Liam, Laura, Samuel, Emma and Jarett Bevitt and Vadin and Devin Myers; six step-great-grandchildren Sydney and Blaine Fisher, Denver, Lauren and Ty Brown, Wichita, McKinley and Maggie Mark, Lenexa; and nieces and nephews.
Graveside funeral services will be 10 a.m. Friday, July 3, at Overbrook Cemetery, Overbrook.
Memorial contributions may be made to Overbrook V.F.W. and sent in care of Lamb-Roberts Funeral Home, P.O. Box 268, Overbrook, KS 66524.
Condolences may be expressed at www.lamb-roberts.com.
