CARTER COUNTY, TN - OBITUARIES - Frank Merritt, 17 Feb 2005 ----¤¤¤---- Frank Merritt, 83, Garrison Hollow Road, Elizabethton, died Thursday, February 17, 2005, in Titusville, Fla., after a brief illness. Mr. Merritt was a native of Carter County and the son of the late John and Minnie Grindstaff Merritt. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Rosalie May Merritt, and a sister, Mae Merritt Wilson. Mr. Merritt was a member of Valley Forge Christian Church and a retired teacher. He taught at Elizabethton High School, was principal at Hampton High School, taught at Cocoa High School, Cocoa, Fla., and was a professor of Brevard Community College, Cocoa, Fla. Mr. Merritt was the former Carter County historian and author of several local history books. He loved music and was the church organist for many years. He was a member of the Army Air Corps in World War II. Survivors include three sons and two daughters-in-law, Carl R. Merritt, Columbus, Ga., Les F. and Sandra Merritt, Cocoa, Fla., and John D. and Billie Merritt, Elizabethton; two daughters and sons-in-law, C. Elaine Merritt-Rourke and Dr. Pat Rourke, Titusville, Fla., and Laurel and Michael Adkins, Richmond Hill, Ga.; eight grandchildren, Tammy, Paige, Stacey, Todd, Keith, Emily, Christopher and John Michael; five great-grandchildren; his brothers-in-law, Dr. Joseph C. May, Dr. Floyd Earl May, Dr. Herbert Collins and Lyle DeWitt, all of Elizabethton, and J.D. Boone, West Jefferson, N.C.; and his sisters-in- law, Bertha Lou Boone, West Jefferson, N.C., Hilda Collins, Joy Bernshausen, Norma May and Loretta May, all of Elizabethton. Funeral services will be conducted at 7 p.m. Tuesday, February 22, at Valley Forge Christian Church with Mr. Jason Burchfield and Mr. H. Clay Bailey, ministers, officiating. Music will be under the direction of Mrs. Frieda Winters. Graveside services and interment will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, February 23, at Happy Valley Memorial Park with military honors provided by the Captain Lynn H. Folsom VFW Post No. 2166. Everyone will meet at Tetrick Funeral Home, Riverside Chapel, at 9:15 a.m. Wednesday to go in procession to the cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Valley Forge Christian Church, 114 Valley Forge Christian Church Road, off Hwy. 19E, Elizabethton. Active pallbearers will be Carl Roberson, Dale Roberson, Bobby Roberson, Jimmy Roberson, Barton Edens and Raymond Holtsclaw. Honorary pallbearers will be Orville Roberson, Milburn Ellis, Bill Vestal, Tommy Franklin, Ted Orr, Larry Timbs, Bill Jones, Joel Crisp, J.L. Winters, William "Wimpy" Hampton, Cale Garrison, Max Garrison and members of the Valley Forge Christian Church. Those who prefer memorials in lieu of flowers may make donations to the American Red Cross, 116 Holston Avenue, Elizabethton, TN 37643; Hospice of St. Francis, 2395 S. Washington Avenue, Titusville, FL 32780; the American Heart Association, 208 Sunset Drive, Johnson City, TN 37604, or to the Alzheimer's Association NE TN, 207 N. Boone Street, Johnson City, TN 37604. Online condolences may be sent to the Merritt family through the Tetrick Web site at www.tetrickfuneralhome.com. Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, (423) 542-2232, is in charge of arrangements. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: The Elizabethton Star http://www.starhq.com/ -----------------------------------------------------------------------------