Obituary of MSgt Merle Eugene Caton, U.S. Air Force,

Merle Eugene Caton, 91, of Colorado Springs, passed away in his sleep on March 2, 2020 at Brookdale Monument Valley Park Senior Living facility, Colorado Springs, CO. Merle was born March 27, 1928 in Buffalo Mills, PA to Harry W. and Edna M. (Burkett) Caton. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Pauline; brothers, William, Owen, Arthur and Paul Caton; and sisters, Marion Caton, Florence Sarver, Cathleen Ferguson, Ona Gerhardt, Virginia Mostoller and Ann O'Baker. Merle is survived by his sons and daughters-in-law, Gary and Sandra Caton of Bozeman, MT, and Mark and Laura Caton of Colorado Springs, CO; granddaughters, Rebecca (John) Brady of Henderson, NV, Jessica (Andy) Craig of Whitefish, MT, Angela (Jordan) Johnson of Thornton, CO and Courtney Caton of Castle Rock, CO; great-grandchildren, Gabriella and Hannah Brady, and Malcolm and Colter Craig; brothers, Harry and Robert Caton; and numerous nieces and nephews. Merle volunteered to join the U.S. Army Air Force after his graduation from Berlin High School (PA). During his military career, he earned the rank of master sergeant and the Victory WWII and Commendation Medals, among other awards, while working as an aircraft maintenance and radar technician. It was during one of his first assignments at Victorville Army Air Field in Victorville, CA, that he met his future wife, Pauline Farrar. Merle and Pauline made frequent moves during his military career, including training assignments in Denver, CO, where the couple were first introduced to the beauty of Colorado. He retired from USAF active duty in 1966, moving his family to their dream hometown of Colorado Springs. There he put his skills to work at Hewlett-Packard (HP) as an electronics technician. Merle had a great love of the Colorado mountains making camping, fishing, and hunting trips with family and friends over the years. He was also an athlete, having played high school basketball and football and on various military softball and bowling teams, and was a star rocket-arm outfielder on HP's 1969 city championship fast pitch softball team. Merle retired from his second career at HP in 1986, and became a frequent "volunteer contributor" to Bronco Billy's Casino in Cripple Creek, CO - taking advantage of many "free" steak dinners there. He continued to cut firewood and work out at the gym to stay in shape throughout his retirement years. He greatly enjoyed the Colorado sunshine, reading the Gazette on the porch, and having a cup of coffee and visiting with friends and neighbors! The family greatly appreciates the loving and caring staff at Brookdale Monument Valley Park Senior Living facility and eventually Brookdale Hospice Care, who assisted him in transitioning from living alone to being part of a small community of new friends and neighbors. He did miss talking with his many neighbors, but the staff and residents at Brookdale made him very comfortable living in his new home - they loved him and genuinely cared for him right up to his passing. Due to travel and overall health concerns during the pandemic, there is no scheduled celebration of life at this time. Merle's cremated remains will be spread on one of his favorite places, the pinnacle of Teocalli Mountain (13,208' elevation), near Crested Butte, CO. Please leave messages of condolence in Merle's memory at tsfs.co Memorial contributions in Merle's memory may be made to Brookdale Hospice, 7222 Commerce Center Dr., Suite 100, Colorado Springs, CO 80919 - please notate "Merle's Memorial" on the memo line.