Mr. Clair Francis Merryman, age 83, formerly of 443 West 15th Street, Tyrone, and a guest at Epworth Manor since November 2002 died Saturday, June 14, 2003 at 1:15 p.m. at the Manor.
He was born on May 23, 1920 in Tyrone, the eldest child of Toner and Olive Goss Merryman. On May 27, 1949 at the United Brethren Parsonage in Tyrone he was married by Reverend Budd Smith to Maryann Leeper who survives. Also surviving are three children- Richard of Tyrone; Nancy Bolinda of Fowler Hollow, Port Matilda and Lynne Merryman and wife Teresa of Fowler Hollow, Port Matilda. Also surviving are four grandchildren- Tracy Bolinda, Shelly Bolinda, Michael Merryman and Alicia Merryman. He was preceded in death by his parents and three sisters- Lois Cowher, Vivian Miller and Margaret Vonada; a beloved cousin Viola Whittle and an infant brother Lawrence.
Mr. Merryman worked as a custodian and food vendor at Penn State University from 1967 to 1982. Prior to working at Penn State, he worked as a crane and heavy equipment operator for Westvaco of Tyrone from 1946 to 1967. During World War II he served as a heavy equipment operator with the Navy Seabees from 1943 until 1946. He served on Iwo Jima with the Navy Seabees. Prior to World War II he worked in an aircraft plant in Buffalo, NY.
He was a 1937 graduate of Port Matilda High School. He was baptized in the Mount Pleasant Methodist Church in 1924 and became a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Tyrone in 1949. He was also a member of the Jaffa Temple, Altoona and the Tyrone Shrine Club.
His hobbies included farming his 98 acre farm in Fowler Hollow, running heavy equipment, reading World War II history, watching car races and teaching his grandchildren to drive.
At the request of the family there will be no viewing or visitation. A private Memorial Service for Mr. Merryman will be held at the convenience of the family with his pastor Robert Dunkelberger officiating. Interment will be in Mount Pleasant Church Cemetery near Fowler Hollow. Contributions in his memory are requested to the Mount Pleasant Methodist Church, c/o Lois E. Bailey, 461 Douglas Drive State College, PA 16801 or the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 6931 Arlington Road, Bethesda, MD 20814.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Richard H. Searer Funeral Home Inc., 115 W. 10th St., Tyrone, PA 16686.
