Darlton “Doc” Merritt was born on the stiff lands of Bodcau on November 17, 1930 to Murff and Annie Mae Oliver Merritt and he passed away January 4, 2020 at home. They moved to the flatwoods of Ivan in the 30’s. Daddy attended Rocky Mount School and joined the Army and served during the Korean Conflict where he worked on heavy equipment. He married Beverly Jo Salter on December 30, 1955. They were married almost 29 years when Moma passed away in June of 1984 due to cancer. He married Inez Williams in April 1993. Daddy worked most his career at Southern Equipment Tractor and Company and he worked his way up to service manager. Upon the sale of SETCO, he went to work for Columbia Equipment and then was the service manager at Scott Truck and Tractor until his retirement. He loved to fish especially at Bocdau’s Leaper Hole.
Daddy was a strong man of faith. Daddy and Moma led their family to serve God, the church and others. Every Sunday morning when we were growing up he would shine his shoes and write out the tithe check. He faithfully served at Princeton Baptist Church in many roles including serving as a deacon for almost 50 years. He always had a song in his heart and praised God through the good times and the bad times. One of his sayings was “I have had good times and bad times but I have had more good than bad.” The hardest time was when his son and daughter-in-law, Doug and Connie Merritt passed away in 2011. He was also preceded in death by his parents, first wife, both brothers, Eugene and Hollis Merritt and best friend, David “Zek” McQueen.
Daddy is survived by his wife, Inez Williams Merritt, his son and daughter-in-law, Roger and Karen Merritt, his daughter and son-in-law, Sheryl and Roy Culpepper. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Clint and Sarah Morris, Krista and Gary Boston, Jared Merritt, Amanda Merritt, Kalli Culpepper and Jenna Culpepper, and his great grandchildren, Caleb, Brooklyn and Braden Morris. He is survived by Inez’s family, Ina Smith and Marilynn and Craig Knight and their children and grandchildren. He is also survived by several nieces and their families.
A celebration of his life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 8, 2020 at Hill Crest Memorial Chapel with Pastor Darrell Cooper and Brother Robert Beadle officiating. Interment will follow at Hill Crest Memorial Park. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, January 7, 2020 from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
Pallbearers will be Tim Williams, Thomas Burge, Thomas and Simon Luke Cooper and his grandsons. Honorary pallbearer will be his good buddy, Glen Branch.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Princeton Baptist Church.
