Lyle Merritt, 95

Lyle Richard Merritt, age 95, of Constantine, passed away Friday, November 6th, 2009 at the Heartland Health Care Center in Three Rivers. He was born in Constantine on December 28, 1913, a son of Frank and Inez (Sawyer) Merritt. He attended school in Constantine. On May 28, 1938 he married Evelyn Maynard in Benton Harbor, she preceded him in death September 2, 2009. Lyle worked as a mechanic at Hover Trucking in Niles retiring in 1975. He enjoyed fishing and hunting and working on small engines. Later in life Lyle loved to watch Western movies and shows.

Surviving are his daughters Kay Merritt of Baldwin, MI, Jeanne (Donald) Hirsch of Tustin, MI, grandchildren Pamela Kublick, Stevensville, Vickie Golladay, Stevensville, Dara (Tony) Ham, Stevensville, Kim (Jeff) Monroe, Kalamazoo, Tony Wissler, Oklahoma, Scott (Lori) Wissler, Cassopolis and Kristin (Karry) Austreng, Louisiana, many gt. grandchildren and 5 gt. gt. grandchildren, brothers Ernie Merritt, Constantine and Roy Merritt, White Pigeon. He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, sisters Lillian Studabaker and Irene Featherstone and brothers Frank and Dick Merritt.

Relatives and friends will be received Sunday from 2-4 and 6-8 pm at the Eley Funeral Home in Constantine where Religious Services will be held at 11 am Monday with Reverend Scott Manning, Constantine United Methodist Church officiating. Interment will be at the Constantine Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Constantine Fire & Rescue or Berrien Co. Cancer Society. On line messages may be left for the family at www.eleyfuneralhomes.com