Michael Ray Merritt

Michael R Merritt, 73, of Mesa, Arizona passed away suddenly on January 20, 2026. He was married to Linda M Merritt for nearly 45 years. He was born in Morganfield, Kentucky on October 5, 1952.

After graduation, he joined the United States Navy as a Petty Officer. Michael had a career in Tissue Banking and Transplantation. He trained and graduated from Corpsman and Operating Room Technician schools. He later entered Transplantation school at Bethesda Naval Hospital where he was Honor Man of the year. He also served on the Presidential staff during the Carter Administration

After his Naval service, Michael joined the staff at the University of Miami, Florida Tissue Bank and later, the Oncology department where he was co-author of a paper on colony-forming assays of Lazarus cancer cells, which was published in Oncology Research in 1981. He opened the Pennsylvania Regional Tissue Bank as well as others around the country

After retiring, Michael was a member of the Sunland Springs Village choral group. He enjoyed cooking, his rose garden and traveling with his wife, Linda.

Michael was predeceased by his brother Robert Daniel Merritt(Danny)

He is survived by his wife Linda, daughter Anna L Banez (Rick), son Michael C. Merritt (Adrianna), sister Debra Vaughn, his brothers Patrick and Timothy and sisters-in-law Cheryl Merritt, Nancy Sitler, and Sister Mary Faith Nielsen , OP and many nieces and nephews.

Services will be held in Michael's honor on Monday, March 2, 2026 at St. George's Catholic Church; 300 E. 16th Avenue, Apache Junction, Arizona with A Rosary Service at 10:30am, a Funeral Mass at 11:00am and the rendering of Military Honors at 12:00pm. A light luncheon to follow at the Superstition Room in Sunland Springs Village, 11214 E Laguna Azul Circle Mesa, AZ 85209.