John Blake Merrick

WEATHERFORD -- John Blake Merrick, M.D., 97, died Thursday, June 26, 2014, in Weatherford. His passing was blessedly peaceful. Memorial service: A service celebrating his life will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Grace First Presbyterian Church, 606 Mockingbird Lane, Weatherford, with a reception following. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at White's Funeral Home, 130 Houston Ave., Weatherford. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Grace First Presbyterian Church, the WISD Education Foundation, or Manna Storehouse of Weatherford. He was born Oct. 15, 1916, in Westfield, N.J., to John Russell and Helen Blake Merrick. After graduating from Colgate University, he received his M.D. from George Washington University Medical School in Washington, D.C. He served in the U. S. Army Air Corps in World War II. In 1942, he married Eloise Sunderman in Arlington, Va., a wonderful marriage that spanned 70 years until her death in 2013. In 1946, they moved to Weatherford where he joined his medical school classmate Carl H. Whalen and Dr. Ed Smith in a medical practice. His practice spanned 40 years and was typical of that time: a family doctor caring for office patients, pediatrics, obstetrics, routine surgeries, hospital and nursing home rounds, and house calls. He was a lifetime member of the Texas Medical Association. Dr. Merrick was very dedicated to education and served on the Weatherford ISD Board of Trustees from 1961 to 1970, serving as secretary, vice president and president during those years. Despite very tight budgets, the district was able to build several badly needed buildings during this time. He was a member and ruling elder of Grace First Presbyterian Church. In 1993, he was named Outstanding Citizen of Weatherford. He was a gifted craftsman with wood, and friends and family cherish wonderful furniture and other pieces that he carefully built. After his retirement he served his church with many wood projects. He was preceded in death by his wife of 70 years, Eloise Merrick; his son, John "Jay" Merrick Jr.; and his sister and brother. Survivors: He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Janice and Mac Smith of Weatherford; his daughter, Susan Bossert of Pine, Ariz.; his niece, Emily Carnesi and husband, Gary Brandt, of Arlington; grandchildren, Laura Merrick of Golden, Colo., Melissa Merrick O'Bray and husband, Brett, of Anchorage, Alaska, Lesley Merrick Sanders and husband, Matt, of Portland, Ore., Ellen Smith Yost and husband, Schuyler, of Dallas, Susan Smith Barnes and husband, Tim, of Fort Worth, Josh Bossert and wife, Lori, of Phoenix, Ariz.; and great-grandchildren, Theodore Merrick Yost, Blake Mendenhall Yost, Clara June Barnes and Jay Merrick Sanders.White's Funeral HomeWeatherford, 817-596-4811