M.W. Merle Parker Tapley 1971

Merle Parker Tapley

Merle Parker Tapley was born in West Brooksville, Maine, February 10, 1920, the third child of Jerome and Ada Tapley. He graduated from the local schools, and earned letters in baseball, basketball and chorus while actively participating in Boy Scouts, Church groups, and 4-H.

After graduation from Brooksville High School, he worked at a variety of jobs, including chauffeur, milk truck driver, surveyor and draftsman for an engineer surveying the Maine-Canadian border. At the age of twenty he moved to Connecticut and for more than two decades was a stair-builder and cabinetmaker for Anderson Brothers Woodworking Company.

Even when military service interrupted his life, Merle Tapley made his 1942-1946 stint in the Army a many-sided educational experience. As a sergeant major he served a U.S. Army station hospital as an administrative NCO, anesthetist, and X-Ray technician. He also had experience as a post barber, a movie projectionist, a newscaster, a drummer in a Special Service orchestra, and compiled a dictionary of the Eskimo language while stationed north of the Arctic Circle in Greenland. He was awarded numerous ribbons for service in European, African, American, and Middle East theaters of operations. He also earned citations for two rescue missions over Greenland's ice cap.

On June 5, 1948 Merle married Dorothy L. "Dot" Parker of Hartford, who was well known to the Masons of Connecticut because of her long and expert services to Connecticut Masonry as secretary in the Grand Lodge Office.

Having acquired certificates of proficiency in various skills while in the Army (Roentgenography, journalism, and photography), Merle returned to civilian life determined to acquire more education and to improve himself professionally. Studying and attending evening classes whenever his work permitted, he gradually accumulated sufficient credits to earn a B.A. degree in English from the University of Hartford in 1966.

At the same time he developed skills in the arts of communication. For twenty years he served as a town reporter for the Hartford Times and the Hartford Courant From these educational and professional experiences he gained employment in the publications department at Hamilton Standard Division of United Aircraft Corporation, where he became a Senior Author. Yankee-like, he made his profession serve him in other ways; operating a small part time print shop, doing offset printing, camera work, and writing.

Merle was raised a Mason in Evergreen Lodge No. 114, South Windsor, on March 22, 1948. He served his lodge as Worshipful Master in 1955, 1986, and again in 1993, and as Chaplain from 1956 to 1959. He was a charter member of Friendship Lodge No. 145 in Manchester, and a past Tyler of Philosophic Lodge of Research. He sought further light as a member of the American Lodge of Research in New York City. He was also a Past R. W. Master of the Hartford County Lodge of Actual Past Masters and an honorary member of St. John's Lodge No.4, Hartford.

In 1959 and 1960, Merle served Grand Masters Gordon F. Christie and Russell H. Milnes as District Deputy in the Sixth District. He was a hard-working member of several Grand Lodge committees: Budget, Masonic Publications, and Masonic Culture and Public Relations. As a member of the last group, he became a welcome participant in many of the annual Northeast Conferences on Masonic Education and Libraries. In 1964 he was awarded the Pierpont Edwards Medal for Distinguished Masonic Service; and in 1964 he received his first Grand Lodge Line appointment as Grand Junior Steward. Advancing regularly through the line, Merle became the 125tb Most Worshipful Grand Master of Connecticut in 1971.

As a Grand Lodge officer, Brother Tapley worked hard in the Brotherhood-in-Action Program, serving as Program Coordinator in Hartford County for two years. When the drive for funds for the modernization program of Masonic Home and Hospital in Wallingford was organized, he served as chairman for the Sixth District.

He was a member of Gideon Welles Chapter No. 50, R.A.M., Wolcott Council No. 1, R. & S.M., and Washington Commandery No.1, K.T. In the Scottish Rite he was a 32° Mason, a member in the Valley of Hartford and the Connecticut Consistory. Brother Tapley was the Scottish Rite representative in South Windsor, a former chairman of the Executive Committee in the Valley of Hartford, and a Past Thrice Potent Master of the Charter Oak Lodge of Perfection. He also served the Scottish Rite as Ninth Degree Director and editor of the Scottish Rite News Dispatch. He received the 33'" degree of the Scottish Rite in 1972, and became an Honorary Member of the Northern Jurisdiction Supreme Council

Merle was a long time member of Sphinx Shriners in Newington, having served as President of the Sphinx Circus Associates, and Circus Director. He also served as a member on the Imperial Shrine Masonic Relations Committee. Additionally, he was a member of the Allied Masonic Degrees and the Royal Order of Scotland, and served as Executive Secretary of the Conference on Masonic Education and Libraries. He was a Past Excellent Chief of Mohawk Council No. 28 of Knight Masons. In 1964 he was honored with the Pierpont Edwards Medal in Bronze for Distinguished Masonic Service and received the Pierpont Edwards Medal in Silver for Eminent Masonic Service in 1994.

Brother Merle also found time for DeMolay and served in many capacities. He was a "Dad" at Charter Oak Chapter, Order of DeMolay and served on the State DeMolay Staff as Director of Publications and Public Relations. He was a past Editor of the Nutmeg Digest, the publication of the Connecticut State Chapter.

M. W. Brother Tapley was interested in ceramics, hunting, fishing, golf, bowling, singing, and photography. In his church, the First Congregational of South Windsor, he sang in the choir for 25 years, occasionally as soloist; he was a Sunday School teacher and Superintendent; Deacon; member and chairman of numerous committees; adviser and officer for various groups.

In the community he served as Republican Town Committeeman for South Windsor, Director of March of Dimes campaigns, Assistant Scoutmaster, and President of the South Windsor Art League. Because of Merle's concern for older people with no one to share the holiday, he and Dot started the Community Christmas Dinner tradition in South Windsor.

M.W. Brother Tapley passed away June 27, 2006. A memorial service was held, Saturday, II am., at the First Congregational Church in South Windsor, with the Rev. David Snyder, officiating. Burial was private in Center Cemetery, South Windsor. A Masonic service was held in conjunction with the religious service.