Merl A. “Sarge” Coles, Jr., 68, of Vero Beach, died Nov. 29 at Indian River Medical Center. He was born March 20, 1941 in Wagner, S.D. and had been a resident of Vero Beach since 1980 coming from Fort Bragg, N.C. Merl retired in 1980 as a Sergeant in the U.S. Army after 20 years then went on to work for the Indian River County Sheriff’s Dept. as a Corrections Officer retiring in 1997. He was a veteran of the Vietnam War and the Korean Conflict. He was a member of the Eagles, VFW and American Legion all of Vero Beach. He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Kathy Coles of Vero Beach; daughter, Nancy McClain of Vero Beach; mother, Viola Coles of South Dakota; sister, Carol Kocer of Taber, S.D. and 2 grandchildren. He was predeceased by his father, Merl A. Coles, Sr. The family will receive friends on Friday, Dec. 11, 2009 from 4-6 p.m. with Military Honors provided by the VFW Post 3918 at 6 p.m. at the Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home, Vero Beach. Condolences may be made to www.lowtherfuneralhome.com.