Jerry Allen Merrill

Jerry Allen Merrill, 81, of Morganton died Monday, August 6, 2012 at Burke Palliative Care Center following a period of declining health. He was born in Gaston County on July 9, 1931 and was a son of the late Reid Lloyd Merrill and Irene Celia Denton Merrill. In addition to his parents, Jerry was preceded in death by brothers, Charles, Warren, and Stewart Merrill.

Jerry was a graduate of Salem High School and Garner-Webb Junior College and was an enthusiastic participant in the athletic programs at each school. He was a U. S. Army veteran of the Korean War and was employed for 23 years as a corrections officer at the Western Youth Correctional Center. Jerry also was an avid participant in Burke County athletic programs both as a player and a coach. He was a member and former deacon of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church.Surviving are his wife, Maxine Foreman Merrill of the home; sons, Jerry Allen Merrill, Jr. and Mack Reid Merrill, both of Morganton; grandsons, Jerry Allen "Trey" Merrill, III and Brandon Shane Merrill; brother, Bob Merrill and his wife, Shirley of Morganton; and a number of nieces and nephews.Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, August 9, 2012, at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church with Rev. Larry Cline, Rev. Jerry Gamble, and Rev. Eddy Bunton officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. Wednesday at Sossoman Funeral Home where the body will remain until placed in the church 30 minutes before the funeral hour. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Sossoman Funeral Home, PO Box 2608, Morganton, NC 28680 to assist with funeral expenses.