Merlin Eugene Hoyt

Merlin Eugene Hoyt

Aug.4, 1931 - Oct. 10, 2012

SAN JOSE, California -- Merlin Eugene Hoyt, 81, died Oct. 10, 2012 in San Jose, California. He was born Aug. 4, 1931, to Dean W. and Emma (George) Hoyt in McCook, Nebraska. He had two older sisters, Nadine and Betty. After the death of his mother in 1943, Merlin's father later married Sylvia Bailey. She had two children, Bruce and Dorsey, who also joined the family.

Merlin was raised in McCook, graduating from McCook High School in 1948. He was in the U.S. Air Force from 1949 - 1951, stationed in Alaska and the South Pacific.

On March 6, 1955, he married Lorna Harrison. They had two children, Michael Dean and Susan Michele, while farming in Nebraska. Merlin furthered his education at the University of Nebraska and the University of Virginia among others. His work through R.C.A./J.P.L. and NASA transferred him from Eastern Nebraska to Montana, Virginia, Maryland and Southern California, before moving to Cupertino, California, in 1967. He was employed as an electronic engineer for Memorex, Tandem and Olivetti.

His wife passed in 1986. He later moved to San Jose, living an active life until just prior to his death. Merlin enjoyed bowling, music, golf and dancing. He was an avid Bison and Husker fan. (GO BIG RED, Dad!) Merlin considered McCook and California his homes.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Lorna and one sister, Nadine Stramel.

He is survived by his son, Mike Hoyt and wife, Gloria of San Antonio, Texas; his daughter, Sue Dack and husband, Jamie; granddaughter, Nicole Gomez and husband, John; grandsons, Joshua Hoyt-Markwith and Caleb Hoyt-Brown; great-granddaughters, Angelina and Gabriella Gomez and their brother, Logan, all of McCook; brother, Bruce Baily and wife, Pauline of Minnesota; sisters, Betty Hoyt of North Dakota and Dorsey Smith of Idaho; many nieces, nephews and friends.

Services are Friday, March 22, 2013, 10:30 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in McCook with the Rev. Lance Clay officiating. Inurnment will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery in McCook.