1934
Gerald
2014
Gerald Leroy Merrill Sr.
March 13, 1934 — November 28, 2014
Gerald Leroy Merrill, Sr. of Tempe, AZ passed away peacefully in his sleep from complications after pneumonia on November 28, 2014, with family and friends close by.
Gerry was born March 13, 1934 in Hastings, MI. He was the son of Leroy Merrill and Melva Houghtalin Merrill Barr. He graduated from Hastings High School Class of 1952. He graduated from University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Gerry's Aerospace career had its roots growing up during World War II with an obsession in aviation. He was 12 years old when he designed a 50-passenger turboprop and won a prize from Air Trails magazine. According to David Noland's article, 'Who Says a Jet Can't be Cheap?' in Smithsonian Air and Space Magazine in March 2008, Gerry was hired by General Electric as a draftsmen in the engine development department while attending night courses at University of Cincinnati. Following that, he worked at Chrysler, Curtiss-Wright, and Smith-Morris, a jet engine component supplier. In 1963, he took a job as a senior design engineer at Teledyne CAE, at the time the leading U.S. manufacturer of small jet engines. He and Tom Foster, a designer who'd been a student of jet propulsion pioneer Frank Whittle in England, became Teledyne's preliminary design department. Gerry moved from Teledyne in Toledo, Ohio to Garrett AirResearch in Phoenix and worked various US government projects. In 1984, he and fellow Sr. Engineer, David Dawson, left Garrett to form their own company-Advanced Propulsion, Inc. They spent the next 16 years working many projects with NASA, started Douglas Private Jets with Donald Douglas, and other Aerospace Industry contractors. In 2009, Gerry suffered a series of illnesses that forced him to retire.
Gerry married his high school sweetheart, Ann Irene Slocum, in 1952. She preceded him in death in 2002.
Gerry is preceded in death by his parents Leroy Merrill and Melva Houghtalin Merrill Barr; step-father James Barr; son, Patrick Merrill, siblings Roger Merrill and Ronnie Merrill; and grand-daughter Sedera Butts.
Gerry is survived by siblings Douglas (Loretta) Merrill of South Bend IN, Steven (Donna) Merrill of Virginia, and Arthur (Peggy) Merrill of Grand Rapids; children Karen Merrill of Detroit, Susan (Rodney) Schlyer of Battle Creek, Gerald Merrill Jr of Tempe, AZ, Linda (David) Elkins of Fairfield CA, Nancy (Craig) Jacob of Gilbert AZ, David (Colleen) Merrill of Gilbert AZ, and Michael (Lisa) Merrill of Holland MI; grandchildren Jarees Butts, Shawn Merrill, Jennifer (Kevin) Caswell, Katherine Elkins, Ben and Sam Jacob, Amanda, Taylor, Emily, Rose, and Lucy Merrill; and 4 great-grandchildren.
Special thanks to Gerry's caregivers, Ben and Nini Tejada, for the past 5 years. They treated him lovingly and as if he were his own family. Special thanks also to long-time friends, Joyce Sitz and co-worker, Alan Margolis.
Memorial Contributions may be made to 'Make a Wish Foundation' or the charity of choice.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, December 4, 2014 from 12:00 pm until 1:30 pm at the Girrbach Funeral Home in Hastings.
Gerry was born March 13, 1934 in Hastings, MI. He was the son of Leroy Merrill and Melva Houghtalin Merrill Barr. He graduated from Hastings High School Class of 1952. He graduated from University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Gerry's Aerospace career had its roots growing up during World War II with an obsession in aviation. He was 12 years old when he designed a 50-passenger turboprop and won a prize from Air Trails magazine. According to David Noland's article, 'Who Says a Jet Can't be Cheap?' in Smithsonian Air and Space Magazine in March 2008, Gerry was hired by General Electric as a draftsmen in the engine development department while attending night courses at University of Cincinnati. Following that, he worked at Chrysler, Curtiss-Wright, and Smith-Morris, a jet engine component supplier. In 1963, he took a job as a senior design engineer at Teledyne CAE, at the time the leading U.S. manufacturer of small jet engines. He and Tom Foster, a designer who'd been a student of jet propulsion pioneer Frank Whittle in England, became Teledyne's preliminary design department. Gerry moved from Teledyne in Toledo, Ohio to Garrett AirResearch in Phoenix and worked various US government projects. In 1984, he and fellow Sr. Engineer, David Dawson, left Garrett to form their own company-Advanced Propulsion, Inc. They spent the next 16 years working many projects with NASA, started Douglas Private Jets with Donald Douglas, and other Aerospace Industry contractors. In 2009, Gerry suffered a series of illnesses that forced him to retire.
Gerry married his high school sweetheart, Ann Irene Slocum, in 1952. She preceded him in death in 2002.
Gerry is preceded in death by his parents Leroy Merrill and Melva Houghtalin Merrill Barr; step-father James Barr; son, Patrick Merrill, siblings Roger Merrill and Ronnie Merrill; and grand-daughter Sedera Butts.
Gerry is survived by siblings Douglas (Loretta) Merrill of South Bend IN, Steven (Donna) Merrill of Virginia, and Arthur (Peggy) Merrill of Grand Rapids; children Karen Merrill of Detroit, Susan (Rodney) Schlyer of Battle Creek, Gerald Merrill Jr of Tempe, AZ, Linda (David) Elkins of Fairfield CA, Nancy (Craig) Jacob of Gilbert AZ, David (Colleen) Merrill of Gilbert AZ, and Michael (Lisa) Merrill of Holland MI; grandchildren Jarees Butts, Shawn Merrill, Jennifer (Kevin) Caswell, Katherine Elkins, Ben and Sam Jacob, Amanda, Taylor, Emily, Rose, and Lucy Merrill; and 4 great-grandchildren.
Special thanks to Gerry's caregivers, Ben and Nini Tejada, for the past 5 years. They treated him lovingly and as if he were his own family. Special thanks also to long-time friends, Joyce Sitz and co-worker, Alan Margolis.
Memorial Contributions may be made to 'Make a Wish Foundation' or the charity of choice.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, December 4, 2014 from 12:00 pm until 1:30 pm at the Girrbach Funeral Home in Hastings.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Gerald Leroy Merrill Sr., please visit our flower store.
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