Mr. Michael Robert Merrill: Obituary

Michael Robert Merrill, 76, of Ellijay, passed away peacefully July 27, 2017, after a 10-year battle with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He was surrounded by loving family and friends at the time of death. Mike was born in Glen Elder, Kan., May 6, 1941.

Mike graduated from Salina High School class of 1959. He served in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Korea and Fort Hood, Texas, receiving the rank of sergeant with a technical specialty of radio operator and an expert rifleman designation. Mike earned an AA from Barton County Community College and was a registered PE in manufacturing engineering. He served as lead engineer and plant manager at a number of U.S. manufacturing companies including Pack Fast Inc., The Fuller Brush Company, and Leggett and Platt. Mike was a skilled machinist and an expert in motors. Mike was an avid golfer and had numerous passions including ham radio, motorbikes, boating, civil aviation, Folgers coffee, and fixing anything that was broken.

Mike is survived by: his wife, Jane Lewis Merrill; children, Robyn Clark (Jim) of Kernersville, N.C., Sam Johnson (Derek McFarlane) of Atlanta, Ga., Shane Merrill (Hope Lloyd) of Glen Ridge, N.J., and Lyn Werbach (Adam) of San Francisco, Calif.; grandchildren, Shawna, Danielle, Miranda, Katie, Daniel, Michael, Mila, Pearl, Simon, and Cecilia; great-grandchild, Eli; and sister, Suzanne Canada.

Mike was preceded in death by: parents, Russell and Winifred (Slaven) Merrill; sister, Marilyn Herwig; brother, Gary Merrill; and daughter, Debra Ash.

Special thanks to Dr. Lynn Zemsky and the staff at Georgia Cancer Specialists and Northside Cherokee Hospital for expert care and loving compassion throughout Mike’s long battle with cancer and during his final days.

Graveside service and burial will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 2, at Glenwood Cemetery, Glen Elder, KS.

In lieu of flowers, donations to: the MD Anderson Cancer Center (https://www.mdanderson.org), or Shriners Hospitals for Children, (https://www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org).

Bernhardt Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.