John Merrill, 1919-2007

Published Friday, August 3, 2007

John Q. Merrill, 88, died Thursday, Aug. 2, 2007, at South Hampton Place in Columbia. Prior to his moving to Columbia 10 months ago, he had been a lifelong resident of Saline County.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, Aug. 6, at Campbell-Lewis Chapel in Marshall with the Rev. Wayne Doolin officiating. Visitation will be held from 1 to 2 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Ridge Park Cemetery in Marshall.

Born April 17, 1919, near Saline City, he was the son of the late Edson Charles Merrill and Elnora McCarty Merrill.

On Dec. 27, 1940, at the parsonage of First Baptist Church in Marshall, he was married to Miss Dorothy Helen Keith by Dr. William M. Taylor. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Marshall and had served as the secretary of the Men’s Bible Class for a number of years and was a former trustee of the church. At one time he was a scout leader and held memberships in the Big Bend Archaeological Society and the Missouri State Archaeological Society. He was in farming prior to his coming to Marshall in 1945. He had a long association with the Farm Supply Company and Nicholas Appliance Company before forming the partnership of Merrill and Meyer. He formed his own business as Merrill Appliance before his retirement in 1981.

He is survived by his wife of South Hampton Place; one son, the Rev. J. Wayne Merrill and wife Patricia of Columbia; one daughter, Donna K. Trammell and husband James of Holts Summit; five grandchildren, Christopher Keller of Bolivar, Steven Keller and wife Kris of Rochester, N.Y., Susan Cash and husband Rick of Castle Rock, Colo., Martha Merrill of Columbia and Amanda Thiele and husband Jerry of Maryland Heights; six great-grandchildren, Andrew Keller of Lake Ozark and Zachary, Kathryn, Jessica, Kariss and Jackson Cash of Castle Rock.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother, Thomas Edson Merrill.

Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church Building Fund. Online condolences may be sent to www.campbell-lewis.com.