GERALD D. MEDLIN

SULLIVAN- A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at the Sullivan Christian Church for Gerald Dean Medlin, 84, Sullivan, who died Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022, in Unionville. Visitation will be held prior to the service, beginning at 12 noon.

Arrangements are under the direction of Eaton Funeral Home of Sullivan.

In lieu of flowers, expression of sympathy may be made to Sullivan Christian Church or St. Louis Christian College.

Survivors include his three children, Cheri Cason, Green City, Greg Medlin and wife Beth, Hunter’s View and Grant Medlin and wife Becke, Sullivan; seven grandchildren, Casey Marstan, Angela Morgan, Brenna Milleville and husband Mitch, Garett Medlin and wife Jennifer, Luke Medlin, Ross Medlin and Cole Medlin and wife Taylor; eight great-grandchildren, Ryder Morgan, Sawyer Morgan, Hudson Morgan, Canyon Morgan, Chloe Ferguson, Aspen Marston, Cora Medlin, Grace Milleville; three sisters, Phyllis Bishop. Rogers, Ark., Zoe Caywood and husband Charlie, Hindsville, Ark. and Pam Kaderly and husband Rick, Lamar; two sisters-in-law, Wilmetta Jeffries, Lamar, and Jeanette McColm and husband Larry, Kansas City, Mo.; and one brother-in-law, Larry Frogge and wife Marsha, Mountain Home, Ark., many nieces, nephews, other family and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Carmen.

Mr. Medlin was born May 30, 1937, in Sheldon, to Jewell and Leta Mae Medlin. He honorably served his country in the United States Army and was discharged on May 27, 1960.

He attended and graduated from Lamar High School. He graduated with a degree in Business from the University of Missouri. He married his high school sweetheart, Carmen Frogge, on Aug. 18, 1956. They established and successfully ran Ditch Witch in Sullivan until selling out in Jan. 1989 at age 51 to fulfill his dream of becoming a cattle rancher at Green Hills Ranch in North Missouri.

The two enjoyed many winters in their home on Marco Island, Fla. His gift of hospitality had no end. Hosting family and friends was a passion of both of them. Whether it was fishing in the ocean, river or creek he enjoyed both the catching and cooking and his Florida fish fry’s, homemade fries, fried turkey (or deer, or pheasant) with gravy and homemade ice cream were legendary.

Mr. Medlin was quite an accomplished hunter- deer, turkey and big game - from polar bears to alligators and brown bears to pheasants- he dealt with the harshest conditions and had many trophy kills. He also loved to hunt mushrooms and take slow rides with his wife in their little white truck to run their dogs out at the farm.

He was an avid reader and storyteller and had his favorite turkey hunting memories published in a book, “A Gobbler Each Spring for 50 Years: A Collection of Turkey Stories”, which is still a delight to all who read it.

He loved horseback riding,” a farm isn’t a farm without a few horses”. Toby (Belgian Draft Horse), Terrific, Puddin’ and Tain were his favorites. Horse riding was part of his dream in owning a cattle ranch in north Missouri. He hosted numerous trail rides at Indian Creek complete with marked trails over the hills and through the woods. He rode on various exploring/sight-seeing trips with his mom, dad and sisters and of course multiple horseback hunting opportunities. He used to tell us he got to combine two things he really enjoyed, hunting and horseback riding.

He and his wife were actively involved in ministry both local and elsewhere. They attended Sullivan Christian Church for decades and also attended the Capri Christian Church in Florida. They were generous in giving to various missionaries, churches and other Christian ministries.