James Leroy Merrell

James Leroy Merrell, 101, passed away under Heartland Hospice at his daughter and son-in-law’s, Janice and William Roe, where he had lived for the past 11 years. He was born May 15, 1917 in Kokomo, IN to Azariah and Minnie Belle (Ratcliff) Merrell. On Christmas Day, Dec. 25, 1940 at Cedar Lake Academy, Cedar Lake, Mich., he married the love of his life, Dolores Irene DeVries, who passed in 2000.

He attended Indiana Academy for one year and then Kokomo High School, graduating in 1936. He was employed by Continental Steel Corp. for 44 years as the supervisor of the Tool and Die Dept. He attended night classes at Purdue University for two years and completed a program in Foremanship from the International Correspondence Schools in 1955. He owned his own Tool and Die Company for 15 years. He was on the Championship Bowling and Golf Teams for Continental Steel in the 1950;s.

He was a 50 plus member of all three Masonic Organizations: Howard Lodge, No. 93, F. & A.M., 32 Degree Scottish Rite, and Murat Shriners.

Surviving are three children, Janice (William) Roe, Kokomo, IN., James (Laura) Merrell, Davenport, Iowa, and Carletta Woodward, Kokomo, IN. One sister, Rosetta Von Ins, Columbus, Ohio.

Grandchildren and spouses: Michelle (Gifford) and William Mason, Dolores (Roe) Dickison, William and Sohyang Roe, Anna (Roe) and Scott Howard, John and Christabell Roe, Elizabeth (Merrell) and Derrick Achacoso, Richard Merrell, Westley Woodward, Chelsea Woodward, and Kyle Pryzdia.

Great grandchildren: Paul Mason, Allen Mason, Christopher Staggs, Lillian (Staggs) and Jeff Long, David Staggs, Ronnie Dickison, Scott Howard II, Alexius Woodward, Kylee Woodward, Wyatt Woodward, Brenda Bearce and one on the way, Abigail Roe.

Great- great grandchildren: Trinity Staggs and Lincoln Long.

A Funeral Service for James will be held Saturday September 29, 2018 at 11:00am at Ellers Mortuary Webster Chapel; 3400 South Webster Street. The family will offer a one-hour visitation prior to the service. Burial will follow at Crown Point Cemetery. Please, in lieu of flowers, make contributions to the Shriners Hospital for Children.