Merrell Athon

Born in Milledgeville, Georgia on the 26th of September 1949 to Jean Brown Athon and Edd Athon, Merrell moved with his family to Fort Worth as a child, adopting Texas as his home for the remainder of his life. Upon graduation from Paschal High School, he attended the University of Texas gathering lifelong friends as a member of Kappa Alpha fraternity. Four years later with degree in hand, empty pockets and memorable stories to tell, Merrell took his first steps as a businessman. He liked to say that he was presented with choice, challenge and opportunity to find his own way. Merrell believed in the American Dream and throughout his life he epitomized it.

Later he completed the Owner/President Management program at Harvard Business School that complemented his entrepreneurial gifts. He founded Lone Star Exploration Company, a successful oil and gas exploration company, in 1975 serving as President and CEO until 1988. His best business decision came in 1989 when he and Peter Wareing decided to form Wareing, Athon and Company, an investment partnership that has flourished for 35 years. Together they operated companies as diverse as Nordic Cold Storage and Union Ice Company on both coasts, American PreStress Concrete in Texas and Mississippi, and Lone Star Overnight, a regional express freight shipping company. He served as Chairman of the Board of Property Damage Appraisers, a family concern that operated nationwide serving the Insurance industry. Merrell loved searching out opportunities. He wasn’t afraid of new ventures saying “I’ll figure it out as I go”. In negotiations, he never believed that for him to win, someone had to lose. He operated not only out of shrewdness, but also reasonableness. His partnerships became friendships. These attributes won Merrell many friends and a reputation in the business community as a man of integrity.

But when asked of his proudest achievement, Merrell would unhesitatingly point to his role as husband and father. He was married to the love of his life Chris Garrett Athon for 45 years in what he would describe as his most enduring and important partnership. His titles of “Dad” and “Granddad” were far more meaningful to him than “Chairman of the Board” or “President”. His commitment to his family and the raising of his two beloved sons far exceeded any business interests. Merrell invested his time and love in transmitting his values to his sons and adored grandchildren whether at the Little League field, on the golf course, in the African bush or sitting around the dinner table. He felt especially blessed to have had sons with the good sense to marry wonderful wives who have especially brought him joy. In addition to his wife Chris, he is survived by son John Garrett Athon, his wife Margot and their daughters Grayson and Greer; and son Bryan Garrett Athon, his wife Lauren and their son and daughter Weston and Clarke, all of Houston. He is also survived by his sister Karen Ross Athon of Houston; sister-in-law Dianne Hawkins and husband John of Dallas; niece Sara Lewis and husband David of Houston; niece Virginia Boutros and husband Victor of Dallas and nephew David Hawkins and wife Sarah of New York City along with all their children, his great-nieces and nephews.

Throughout his life, Merrell continually gave back to the community serving on numerous corporate and charitable boards. His most meaningful was serving as a Trustee on the Board of Texas Children’s Hospital for 38 years. He also enjoyed steering both Episcopal High School and Annunciation Orthodox School as Chairman of the Board of both schools. He was a longtime member of First Presbyterian Church, Houston Country Club, and Monterey Peninsula Country Club in Pebble Beach, California. Friendships were of great value to Merrell. Though his network of friends was large and diverse, Merrell found time to invest in each one. Friends always had his full attention whether sharing an Astro’s baseball game or coming alongside them as they weighed business or personal life decisions.

Merrell loved golf and was a lifelong student of the game. Enduring friendships flourished on the fairway. No matter where he was or what he was doing, he always dressed as if he was headed to the golf course. He played all over the world from New Zealand to Scotland/Ireland and was a reservoir of historical golf minutiae. He and Chris traveled extensively. Their bucket list inclined more toward adventure than the mundane. They made memories from numerous trips to Africa and Hawaii, their two favorite destinations. Merrell left this life with only one regret: he ran out of time before he could take his grandchildren on safari. Carmel, California was their special place for 35 years. There they spent summers at their home golfing, hiking and enjoying friends and family. Their farm at Brenham provided Merrell a closer place to grab some peace and quiet with Chris or surrender to the lovable chaos when surrounded by the grandchildren. Merrell was intellectually curious and a relentless learner. Books expanding his knowledge of places or ideas as well as forgettable detective novels were stacked on every surface of the house much to his wife Chris’ frustration.

The family wishes to thank the staff at MD Anderson Cancer Center, especially Dr. Sunyoung S. Lee, Dr. Ethan B. Ludmir, and Angelica Arzola, PA, whose extraordinary talents and relentless kindness gave Merrell the gift of time.

A celebration of Merrell’s eternal life is to be conducted at one o’clock in the afternoon on Tuesday, the 1st of October in the sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church, 5300 Main Street in Houston. Immediately following all are invited to greet the family during a reception at the church. For those unable to attend, Livestream will be available at https://fpchouston.org/ministries/adults/memorials-and-memorial-garden/.

For those desiring memorial contributions, the family suggests with gratitude: Texas Children’s Hospital Department of Adult Congenital Heart Defects online at www.texaschildrens.org/givetoday or by mail to Texas Children’s Hospital, Office of Philanthropy, suite 6226, PO Box 300630 , Houston, Texas 77230 or M.D. Anderson Cancer Center online at www.mdanderson.org/donors-volunteers/donate/honor-loved-ones.html or by mail at Philanthropy, UT M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, PO Box 4486, Houston, Texas 77210-4486.

Merrell leaves behind a legacy of generosity, humor, enduring friendships and loving family built on a solid foundation of faith in God and his belief in the importance of personal integrity. He was respected by all who knew him, and his 75 years of walking this earth left it a better place. Indeed, his was a life well lived.

“Well done thy good and faithful servant”.