Mr. Deedthridge Merrill

MERRILL, Mr. Deedthridge - Age 87, passed away Friday, February 28, 2014 at McLaren Select Specialty Hospital-Flint, MI. Family hour 10:30 a.m. Monday, March 10, 2014 at Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church, 424 Kennelworth Ave. with funeral service commencing at 11 a.m. Rev. Dr. Major A. Stewart officiating. Interment Sunset Hills Association, G-4413 Flushing Rd. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the Church 10:30 a.m. Monday. Mr. Merrill will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd. and may be viewed from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday. Mr. Deedthridge Merrill, affectionately known as “Dee” since infancy, began his sojourn August 19, 1926 in Winchester, AR, as the firstborn of four children to Joseph and Alean Merill. He grew up in Dumas, AR, having received his primary education there, graduating from High School in Pine Bluff, AR. Upon graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served during World War II and The Korean Conflict and was honorably discharged from military service. Mr. Merrill attended Business College in Chicago before moving to Flint, MI. Dee settled in Flint and married Helen DeGroat and was a devoted husband until her death in 1999. He was employed by The State of Michigan in juvenile Corrections, coaching, mentoring, and counseling young men who were residents of youth facilities. After retirement from The State of Michigan he sold insurance for many years which was his passion. Dee was always the consummate gentlemen, a person of principle, integrity and high standards. He united with Mount Olive Baptist Church in 2003 and served faithfully on the Senior Usher Ministry until his health began to fail. He was always ready and willing to lend a hand to anyone who needed it. Mr. Merrill touched and blessed many lives as he traveled this road and leaves to cherish his memory: brother, Joe (Doris) Merrill of Chicago, IL; several nieces and nephews including, Vincent Merrill of Chicago, IL, who was the son he never had and was very devoted to his uncle; aunt, Catherine Lambert of St. Louis, MO; numerous cousins and loving friends including devoted friend and companion, Dolores McGowan; special friends Frank Tedford, Robert Stamps, Lolanda Johnson and Linnette Phillips; a step-son and two step-grandchildren; several in-laws including the Grier and Nita Davis Families. Mr. Merrill was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Alean Merrill and siblings, Josephine Grady (Milton Sr.) and Jeweleen Giles (Edward).

Mr. Deedthridge Merrill

August 19, 1926 - February 28, 2014