Harry Lamar Merck

Lamar was born December 18, 1928 in Eustis, FL and was the only son of Harry Walter Merck and Mildred Elizabeth Hethcox Merck. As a youth, he made a profession of faith and was baptized in Dawson Springs, KY in 1943 and remained a faithful and dutiful Christian for the remainder of his life.

He graduated from Huntington High School in 1947 in Huntington, WV where he met his future wife Betty Jean Barr. He graduated from West Virginia University in 1951 with a BS in Forestry. As a student at WVU, he was an active member of and served as president of the Wesley Foundation campus ministry. He went on to receive a Masters of Forestry from Duke University in 1954 and became licensed by the State of Georgia in the Practice of Professional Forestry in 1957.

He married his high school sweetheart Betty Jean Barr December 26th 1950 and celebrated 64 years of marriage in 2014.

Following his undergraduate degree at WVU, he was commissioned as an officer in the US Army from 1951 to 1953 and served in Korea in 1952. For actions in October 1952 in the Chorwon region as a Platoon leader of Company K of the 3rd Battalion of the 23rd U.S. Infantry Regiment in cooperation with units of the French Battalion, he received “The Croix de Guerre of Foreign Theaters of Operations with Bronze Star” from the Government of France. During his military service, he also received the United Nations Service Medal Combat Infantry Badge; a Korean Service Ribbon; and a Bronze Star Medal.

After Korea and Graduate School, Lamar moved with his young family to Georgia in 1954 living first in Baxley then Tifton, and finally moving to Statesboro in December 1960. He was employed with the Union-Camp paper company from 1954 until 1975. In 1975, he joined the University System of Georgia Extension Service as a Forester and retired in 1991.

Upon arriving as a new resident in Statesboro in December of 1960, he and his wife became members of Pittman Park United Methodist Church. As a lifelong member, he served the Church in numerous capacities from the Choir, building and finance committees, and was instrumental in originating the Tuesday XYZ men’s work program.

During his professional career and civic life, he received numerous awards and citations including a Dean Day Smith Service to Mankind Award in 1997.

His survived by his wife, Betty J. Merck, his eldest daughter TJ Merck Parker of Boca Raton, FL, and his youngest son Harold L. Merck of Atlanta. Also surviving are grandchildren: Stewart J. Parker (Michelle), David W. Parker, and Laura Jean Parker Beckett and great grandchildren: Grayon V. Parker and Rixey Jean Parker. Lamar was preceded to his Heavenly home by his parents and a son, Howard Lamar Merck.

As a result of an infection in February 2005, Lamar became partially paralyzed. Despite his physical disabilities, he always maintained a positive outlook and was an uplifting inspiration and influence to those around him throughout the remainder of his life. In his last years, he was greatly assisted in his daily life by wonderful care-givers Martha Skanes and Cynthia Busby.

The family will receive friends 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm Friday, April 24, 2015 in the Parlor at Pittman Park United Methodist Church.

A memorial service will be held 7:00 pm Friday, April 24, 2015 in Pittman Park United Methodist Church with Reverend Bill Bagwell and Reverend Jonathan Smith officiating.

Memorial contributions may be made to Ogeechee Area Hospice, P.O. Box 531, Statesboro, GA 30459 or www.oahospice.org or Pittman Park United Methodist Church, 1102 Fair Road, Statesboro, GA 30458 or www.pittmanpark.org.

Hodges-Moore Funeral Home is in charge of funeral arrangements.