SMITH COUNTY - FRIENDSHIP CEMETERY


GLADEWATER - Services for Harold Merritt, 84, of Gladewater, will be 10 a.m. Tuesday, September 8, 2009, at Friendship Baptist Church, with Bro. John Work officiating. 

Interment will be in Friendship Cemetery, Friendship, Smith Co., Texas. 

Arrangements are by Croley Funeral Home in Gladewater. Mr. Merritt passed away Saturday, September 5, 2009, in Dallas. 

Harold was born at the Merritt Homestead in Friendship on March 9, 1925, to Mittye Perry and James S. Merritt. 

Mr. Merritt served his country during World War II aboard the USS Portland in the South Pacific. Upon his return, he began his career in the East Texas oilfields. After 30-plus years, he retired from Gulf Oil in 1983 to devote himself full time to his true vocation: farming. He enjoyed sharing his crops with family, friends and community. 

Mr. Merritt was preceded in death by his wife Joyce; his oldest son, Daniel; and will be missed by his children: Dan's wife, Ginger, Larry Merritt and his wife, Jackie, Cindy Ward and her husband, Alan, Faith Fort and her husband, Gary, and Ellen Lyon and her husband, Jeremy. Mr. Merritt was blessed with 11 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren. 

The family of Mr. Merritt would like to invite you to attend visitation from 6-8 p.m. today, September 7, 2009, at Croley Funeral Home in Gladewater. 

Memorial donations may be made to Friendship Cemetery Association, c/o Anne Roundtree, 23389 CR 3107, Gladewater, TX 75647.