Jaye Merritt was living proof that through hard work and determination you can achieve anything in life. He established our family in Colorado Springs in the 80s and started in a job as a landscaper at the Thompson Ramo Wooldridge (TRW) Aerospace facility. As computers became more mainstream, he invested every cent he made into computer equipment in order to teach himself how to manage Information Technology systems. TRW eventually took notice of his knowledge and took a chance by hiring him on as a contractor in the still new IT field. Over the course of the next 30 years, he dedicated his life to serving his country in various contracting jobs with Lockheed Martin at NORAD and Schriever AFB. His crowning achievement before he retired was being selected to work with the team that developed and established the USAF Near Field Infrared Experiment satellite project. Jaye’s technical expertise contributed to more than 950 successful inter-satellite and satellite-to-ground laser communications links with its Laser Communications Terminal, delivering the Department of Defense invaluable missile defense data still in use to this day.
Jaye was also a passionate tinkerer and outdoor recreation enthusiast. He spent most of his retirement working hard on new projects involving his RV, electronics restoration, home improvement ideas, and automotive upgrades for his vehicles. If there was something to be done, or an idea to act on, he was always on it. Jaye found happiness and fulfillment in life working with his hands and being outdoors, and he did just that all the way up until the day he passed on.
Jaye was a strong, loving, and supportive husband and father. His knowledge and guidance was the foundation of his family. Jaye Merritt is survived by his beloved wife of 40 years Pamela Merritt, his two sons Spencer Merritt and Sean Merritt and his six grandchildren Ethan Merritt, Aiden Merritt, James Merritt, Jourdyn Merritt, Jake Merritt and Jared Merritt. Currently, Jaye walks in the clouds with his son Shane, his Mother Ethelynd and his father in law Walter Leonard Graves.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.Swan-Law.com for the Merritt family.
