Roy D. Merryman Sr. passed away on Tuesday, May 10, 2016, at Hillview Health Center after a recent illness.
Roy was born in Davidson County in the “Old Hickory” area near Nashville, Tenn., to Lewis B. and Anna Bell West Merryman on August 31, 1927. He was preceded in death by both parents; two sisters, Lucy Stair and Francis Ward; and six brothers, Paul, Raymond, D.J., Fred, Ernest and Lewis Merryman.
Roy was a 28-year veteran of the military, having served in three different branches. He joined the Marines at the age of 17, then went into the Navy and later the Army and retired from the Army National Guard. He served active duty in World War II and in the Korean Conflict.
Roy was a graduate of Elizabethton High School and attended ETSU. He was always an active businessman, having owned several businesses in the Elizabethton area. He worked for the U.S. Postal Service as a postman and worked for the Tri-Cities Airport. He was a County Commissioner for several years and took much pride in being a commissioner. But, his most proud accomplishment was the role he had, along with Mr. Deacon Bowers, in the birth and development/construction of the Elizabethton Veteran’s War Memorial in downtown Elizabethton. He made it a point to go to the construction site daily and visit with the prisoners from Roan Mountain State Prison, who were building the war memorial. He always took them coffee and donuts. All the prisoners loved him because he always treated them with respect and dignity.
Those left to cherish his memory are daughter, Sherry Garris (Dave) of Mountain City, Tenn.; sons, Doug (Sharon) and Jack, both of Elizabethton, Tenn.; grandchildren, Christie Gauldin (Brad) of Callands, Va., Crystal Newton (Steve) of Banner Elk, N.C., Adam Merryman (Rachel) of Elizabethton, and Daniel Merryman (Jennifer) of Tacoma, Wash.; great-grandchildren, Jessica, Dylan and Alex Gauldin and Addison, Jackson and Austin Merryman; and two sisters, Sue Little and Jessie Scott.
Funeral services for Roy D. Merryman will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 14, at Memorial Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Mark Fowler officiating. Interment will follow at Happy Valley Memorial Park. Active pallbearers will be Tom Little, TJ Little, Mike Little, David Little, Joe Little, Dave Garris and Steve Newton. Honorary pallbearers will be Deacon Bowers, Dude LaPorte, Sam Shipley, Gene Sams and Roy’s Tuesday night poker playing buddies. A special “Thank You” goes out to the young people (caregivers) of Sycamore Springs Assisted Living, the staff of Sycamore Shoals Hospital and the staff of Hillview Health Center. Friends may visit with the family at the home of Doug and Sharon at 712 West H Street, Elizabethton. In lieu of flowers, those whose wish may make donations to the Elizabethton Veteran’s War Memorial Oversite Committee in care of Chairman Bill Carter. The family will receive friends from 12 noon until 2 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Condolences may be sent to our website at www.memorialfcelizabethton.com.
Memorial Funeral Chapel is serving the Merryman family.