Jack W. Merriam, Jr.

MERRIAM, Jack W., Jr., passed away on February 19 at age 90. Jack was born in Palatka, Florida, on September 27, 2013, and is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Burnelle, two children, five grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army as a technical sergeant in the 392nd fighter squadron in Europe. After the war he was employed by the Department of Navy (civil service), at NAS Jacksonville, retiring as a Quality Control Supervisor. He served in the U.S. Navy Reserve following World War II as a flight engineer on a P-2V Neptune patrol plane, retiring as a Master Chief Aircraft Maintenanceman. At the height of the Cold War he was called to active duty in the Navy for a period of one year, stationed at NAS Jacksonville. After retiring from these positions, commencing in 1982, he served as a civilian bailiff at the Duval County Courthouse; in 2002 he assumed the position of Chief Bailiff until retiring for health reasons in 2012. He was a Master Mason, serving a term as Worshipful Master of Duval Lodge No. 259. He was also a member of the Morocco Temple and was Captain of the South Jacksonville Shrine Club motorcycle unit known as the Jet Stars. A funeral service will be held at eleven o’clock in the morning on Saturday, February 22, 2014 at Faith United Methodist Church, 4000 Spring Park Road, Jacksonville, FL 32217. Interment will follow at two o’clock in the afternoon at Oaklawn Cemetery. HARDAGE-GIDDENS, THE OAKLAWN CHAPEL, 4801 San Jose Boulevard is serving the family.