Gerald Thorpe Merrill

Retired Asstistant Fire Chief Gerald Merrill, 93, of Newport, died Wednesday, December 10, 2014 at Crystal Bluffs in Morehead City.

A funeral service will be held 2:00 pm Sunday at St. James United Methodist Church with Rev. Tom Supplee officiating. Interment will follow at Gethsemane Memorial Park.

He was active in sports at Beaufort high school, played semi-pro baseball in the Tidewater League and was called for a try out with the Chicago Cubs. He was a fireman at Cherry Point Marine Corps Station for 30 years and retired as Assistant Chief. He was very active in the Carteret County Community, and he was a founding member of the Newport Fire Department. He was on the first Board of Directors for the Newport Developmental Center for Children, a past member of the School Board for West Carteret High School. He coached basketball and baseball and served as an umpire in the Town Leagues of Newport. He was a past Worthy Patron of the Newport Masonic Lodge, Ocean Lodge # 405. He obtained 32nd degree and became a member of the Sudan Temple Shrine Club in New Bern, NC.

Gerald was an avid golfer, a member of East Coast Golf Association where he won several tournaments, and a member of Carolina Pines Country Club. He was very dedicated to his church, St. James United Methodist in Newport for over 70 years. He was chairman of many committees during that period, served as lay leader, and was treasurer for over 20 years.

He is survived by his wife of 72 years, Myrtle W. Merrill of Newport; two sons, Gerald Regan "Rick" Merrill and wife Sharon of Raleigh, and Randy Merrill and wife Luanne of Harkers Island; one daughter, Twyla Luedeke and husband Jonathan of Columbus, OH; six grandchildren David Luedeke and wife Theresa, Mica Luedeke Lockwood and husband Mike, Miranda Merrill Zumbro and husband Neil, Grayson Merrill and wife Emily, Trevor Merrill and Meredith, and Shelton Merrill and Katherine. There are nine great grandchildren, Caden, Elias, Landon, and Flynn Lockwood, Saylor, Skylynn and Talan Merrill, David and Jacob Luedeke.

Visitation will be 5:00-7:00 pm Saturday at Munden Funeral Home.

Flowers are welcome or memorial donations may be made to St. James United Methodist Church at PO Box 250 Newport, NC 28570, or the Newport Fire Department, PO Box 1869, Newport, NC 28570.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.mundenfuneralhome.net

Arrangements by Munden Funeral Home and Crematory Inc. of Morehead City.