Richard L. Merrill, Jr.

Richard L. ‘Rick’ Merrill, Jr. of Kalamazoo, Michigan, passed away peacefully at home,

November 2, 2007

, surrounded by a family that loved and adored him. Rick was born

July 31, 1948

in

Kalamazoo

to Richard Sr. and Bernice (Kavanaugh) Merrill. He was a 1966 graduate of

Otsego

High School

, then attended

Oakland

Community College

and

Wayne

State

University

. He was a plank owner on the USS John F. Kennedy Aircraft Carrier during the

Vietnam

era. He was employed with McDonald’s in

Southwest Michigan

providing facilities maintenance for 31 locations. Rick was a member of

Northwest

Oshtemo

Methodist

Church

. He enjoyed fishing, loved his family and being with them, and could/would fix anything for anyone. Rick especially enjoyed watching his grandchildren, nieces and nephews participate in sports, band, choir, plays; anything a family member was involved in, he would travel many miles to watch them. He spent many holidays with his immediate family of 93 members. The last Saturday of every month was spent with his siblings and their spouses playing games and enjoying a great meal prepared by the host sibling. Rick lived his life serving Christ. On

August 28, 1982

he married Linda Price, who survives. Also surviving are his sons, Richard III (Michelle), Thomas, Matthew (Matt), Michael (Amy) and Harry; his daughters, Cheryl (Norm) Croff and Karie (Gary) Hilton; his brother, Timothy (Sharon); his sisters, Joy (Gary) Chase, Sally (Dan) Perrin, Cheryl (Rick) VanderVeen, Jeanne (Kevin) Lewis and Tammy (Bob) Bailey; a half-sister, Janice (Bill) Roberts; sister-in-law Nyla Merrill (her finance Paul Ullrey); a brother-in-law, Grant (Tenya) Price; 14 grandchildren; many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Patrick and his half-sister, Sharon Murphy. Cremation has taken place. The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and

6

to

8 P.M.

Sunday at the

Winkel Funeral Home,

Otsego.

Memorial services will be held at

11:00 A.M.

Monday at the United Methodist Church of Otsego with Pastor Bill Walker officiating. A private family burial will be at

Fort

Custer

National

Cemetery

. Contributions in Rick’s memory may be made to the Ronald McDonald House. “He was never sick, he had an accident with cancer.” “GONE FISHIN…!”

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