Roger W. Merritt

Roger W. Merritt, 88, passed away peacefully on Friday, September 21, 2018 at Baysmont House after a period of declining health. He was born in Harvey, Illinois to Worth W. and Eula Reed Merritt. He graduated from Thornton Township High School in 1947 and Iowa State University in 1951 with a Bachelor's degree in Forestry. He received a fellowship to attend Yale University in 1964 and completed a Masters in Forestry in nine months.

Roger was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Navy in 1953, serving proudly until 1956; he remained in the Naval Reserves and was recalled during the Berlin Crisis in 1961. He accepted a position with Union Bag/Union Camp in 1956 and spent 37 years as a Forester in Georgia and South Carolina, retiring in 1993. He was active in the community in Homerville, Georgia, serving on the Hospital Authority, Zoning Commission, and the Board of Directors of Empire Bank. He received the Melvin Jones Fellow in 1999 from Lion's Club International for his many years of leadership. He was a member of the Lions Club in Clinch County, Georgia, Vinton, Virginia and Kingsport, TN for nearly 60 years. He served the Homerville United Methodist Church in many capacities through the years and was a member of First Broad Street United Methodist Church and the Pairs and Spares Sunday School class at the time of his death.

He moved to Kingsport in 2006 and lived at Baysmont Independent Living until 2016. He enjoyed activities at Preston Place Suites for almost two years. He was known for his kindness, the compliments he readily shared, his love of sports and ice cream. He shared his faith by example.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Chloe Merritt and Patricia M. Thompson, wife Joanne Fritz Merritt, wife Ann White Rude Merritt, in laws Steven Fritz, Karen White Miller, James Thompson and Ward Martin.

Survivors include his daughter Martha Merritt Blalock, son in law William T. (Bill) Blalock, grandson Benjamin T. Blalock and wife Rebecca, granddaughter Emily H. Blalock, sister Margaret J. Martin of Mount Desert, Maine, nieces and nephews: Suzanne T. Stork, Christine T. Kalb, Mark Thompson all of Ohio, David Fritz, Missouri, Anne Fritz Berns, Iowa, Kim Fritz Guenther, Minnesota, Nathan Fritz, Missouri, Ryan Fritz, Kansas, Amy Miller Frary and Amanda Miller Garber of Virginia. His extended family includes Charles and Marcella Fritz, Waukon, Iowa, Jane Fritz, Marshalltown, Iowa, Robert Miller, Vinton, Virginia and Barbara Roland of Mount Desert, Maine.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, September 30 at 2:00 p.m. at First Broad Street United Methodist Church with Rev. Jack Weikel and Rev. Jim Harless officiating. The family will receive friends in the church parlor after the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Parish Nurse Ministry, First Broad Street United Methodist Church.

An additional service will be held in November at the Homerville United Methodist Church in Homerville, Georgia.

The family would like to express their sincere appreciation for the loving care provided by the staff at Preston Place Suites and Baysmont House.