John Junior Merritt Obituary's Obituary
John Junior Merritt of Seymour, Iowa, passed away at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines on November 2, 2013, at the age of 76 years and three months. He was born on August 2, 1937, to John LeRoy and Cosy Ethel Clark Merritt, in Walnut Township, near Seymour, Iowa. He was the youngest of four sons. He attended Center Country School through the eighth grade and then graduated from Seymour High School in 1955. His father passed away near the end of John's freshman year in high school, and many friends and neighbors and his three older brothers just stepped in and helped John and his mother continue the farming that they were left to do, both with good advice and much hard physical work. John was still farming with a team of horses at the time, and his brothers helped him to get his first tractor. While John was still in high school, he gave his heart to the Lord during revival service with Rev. Bill Cleeton and his own brother, Rev. Jack Merritt. John married Norma Jean (Jeannie) Sharp on August 12, 1956, at the Evangelical United Bretheren Church in Seymour, Iowa, and they welcomed four children into their lives. John retired in 2007, after 38 years at L & M Tire Distributors, Inc., a company he and his friend, Bob Lockridge, started in January of 1969. In later years, John left Jeannie and son, Andy, to pretty much handle day to day business at L & M Tire and the farming while he worked as a Sales Agent for Hankook Tire America, setting up new distribution dealerships in five states in the upper midwest. He enjoyed his business life, but his true love was at the farm, often telling others that it was peaceful, mind clearing therapy for a stressed out road salesman. He loved his horses, loved the sport of horse trading. He enjoyed the horse trips to the mountains with friends, and the many trail rides the group made in southern Missouri. John was preceded in death by his parents, his son, John Jeffrey Merritt, his granddaughter, Natalie Jean Bunnell, and all three of his brothers, Forrest 'Torp', Jack, and Harry Jay Merritt. He is survived by Jeannie, his wife of 57 years, and his children, Sally Jean Merritt-Rash (Joel), of Colfax, Andy David Merritt (Linda), of Seymour, and Susan Lynn Merritt-Bunnell (Rick) of Oskaloosa. Also, grandchildren, Jeff Campbell (Jamie) of Chariton, Travis Rash of Seymour, Tanner Rash (Amy) of Eddyville, Adam Moore of Des Moines, Ashly Moore of Pasadena, California, Levi Merritt of Talulah, Louisana, Quinten Merritt from Seymour, Clayton Merritt from Iowa City, and Luke Merritt from Seymour, Ross Merritt (Elizabeth) from Seymour, and Juliana Bunnell from Oskaloosa. He is leaving eleven great-grandchildren behind, Jayla, Carsen, Carli, Ava Rose, Blair, Tripp, Karsyn, Karleigh, John, Erin, and Bryn. He also has four brothers-in-law; Bill Sharp of Shenandoah, Harold 'Bud' Sharp from Silvis, Illinois, Gary (Colleen) Sharp from Ft. Meyers, Florida, and Norm Sharp from Durango, Colorado, and one sister-in-law, Mary Mar Merritt from Phoenix, Arizona. Many nieces and nephews, and many, many friends. John loved all of his family very much, and we all are going to miss his love and guidance very much. The family has requested that, in lieu of flowers, that a memorial donation be made in John's name to The Seymour Volunteer Fire Department and First Responders. Memorials may be sent to the Randolph Funeral Home, 204 North Greeley Street, Corydon, Iowa. Book Travel to Services To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of John Junior Merritt Obituary please visit our Sympathy Store.
What’s your fondest memory of John?
What’s a lesson you learned from John?
Share a story where John's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with John you’ll never forget.
How did John make you smile?