WLKM Radio 95.9 FM
Gerald Raymond Meyer, age 86, of Centreville, went home to be with his Lord Jesus, Sunday, March 11, 2012.
He was born Dec. 15, 1925, in Muskegon, a son of Raymond and Minnie (Roselle) Meyer.
Sixty-eight years ago in 1944, he married Ellamaree Maxin of Grand Rapids; and together they raised their son, Barry, and daughter, Paula.
Gerald led a very active and productive life for someone without much formal education.
Industrious even as a young boy, he started producing his own local newspaper in Grand Rapids before joining the Merchant Marines in 1944. After World War II, he started a business that later became known as Meyer Hydraulics Corp. While the company began by repairing hydraulic jacks for customers around Michigan, it wasn’t too many years and Gerald changed the company into a manufacturer of portable hydraulic lifting equipment for airplanes, cars and trucks. Today, the company’s products can be found around the world.
In his spare time he loved to fly his Cessna, spend time at the cabin he built back in 1949, hunt and fish, bowl and play golf. He was blessed by God to have bowled a 300 game and shot two holes-in-one in golf. Gerald also was active in his church over the years, teaching Sunday School, playing church softball and serving as a deacon.
Gerald is survived by his wife Ellamaree Meyer of Centreville; a son, Barry (Laura Sue) Meyer of Three Rivers; a daughter, Paula (Bill) Coomer of Mendon; six grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his dad and mother, Raymond and Minnie Meyer; his brother James (Jim) Meyer, who was killed in the Korean War; a grandson, Bobby Coomer; and his beloved dog, Bruce.
The family will receive relatives and friends from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, at Schipper Funeral Home in Colon.
Funeral services celebrating the life of Gerald R. Meyer will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Colon Baptist Church, with Mr. David J. Farrell officiating. A committal service and burial will take place at 11 a.m. Friday at Winchester Cemetery in Byron Center.
If desired, the family suggests memorials be made in Gerald’s memory to the Salvation Army’s Little Pine Island Camp, 6889 Pine Island Drive, Comstock, MI 49321, that sponsored Gerald and brother Jim for a week of camp one summer during the Depression when his family was dirt-poor.
