Born November 14, 1947 in Paducah, Kentucky to Charles and Florence (Amis) Merry, he married Coleen Langenbahn on April 7, 1973 in Manito. She survives.
Also surviving are two brothers, Charles (Victoria) Merry of Mapleton and Gregory (Betty) Merry of Kingston Mines and two sisters, Wanda Klein of West Peoria and Renee Farrow of Mapleton.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Jim was a Vietnam veteran of the United States Army Special Forces serving as a Green Beret and Army Ranger. He was the recipient of four Purple Heart’s, Bronze Star Medal and the Distinguished Service Cross.
He was a member of the Pekin Moose Family Center #916 and enjoyed raising horses and farming.
Jim had worked in skilled trades at Caterpillar, Inc. in Peoria for 41 years, retiring in 2013. He was a member of the UAW Local 974 in East Peoria.
His funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, October 25, 2021 at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin. Pastor Steve Weber will officiate. Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday afternoon at the funeral home. Burial will be at Kingston Mines Cemetery. Military rites will be provided by the United States Army and Tazewell Military Rites Team.
Memorial contributions may be given to Tazewell Animal Protective Society, 100 TAPS Lane, Pekin, Illinois 61554.
To express condolences online, visit www.preston-hanley.com
