Theron C. Merrill
September 21, 1922 ~ April 13, 1999
Mr. Merrill was born in Buncombe County and was a son of the late Carl and Estelle Trantham Merrill. He was a Navy veteran of WW II and a former employee of the VA Medical Center. He retired after 28 years with Memorial Mission hospital.
He attended Fruitland Bible College, was a minister of God, and was widely known as 'Preacher Merrill'. He used his ministerial talents in his profession at the hospitals as well as preaching at his home church, Grassy Branch Baptist, and other churches.
He is survived by his wife, Robena W. Merrill; three daughters, Joyce Owenby of Fairview, Shirley Davis of Mills River, and Sara Swann of Asheville; three brothers, Vincent Merrill of Enka, Alvis Merrill of Oteen, and Dennis Merrill of Fairview; seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday at Grassy Branch Baptist Church with the Revs. Lester Crayton and Ken Sausedo officiating.
Military graveside rites will be provided by the Buncombe County Veterans Council Memorial Team at 10:00 am Thursday at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.
His family will receive friends immediately following the service at the church Wednesday evening until 9:00 pm.
Memorials may be made to Mountain Area Hospice, PO Box 16, Asheville, NC 28802.
Groce Funeral Home on Patton Avennue is in charge of the arrangements.
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Rick and I send our sympathy
Dear Theidore, Ilove you always You have been a dad and a good Influence, Love always Your grand daughter Tiffani
Dear Mr. Merrill,
Thank you for being such a strong influence in my life. You took me in as one of your own and I will never forget your kind gentle smile and the love and concern that you showed me. May you rest in peace and I know that I will be joining you again. Bless you.
Mr. Merrill,
I have only known you a short while, but during that time you influenced my life. It was an inspiration to sit and talk with you. Your faith in the Lord was such an example to others.
DEAR DADDY,
TO MY LORD-I GIVE HIM PRAISE
HE HONORED ME THE MOST PRECIOUS DAYS
WITH THE GREATEST GIFT I EVER HAD
THIS GREAT GIFT,I CALLED HIM DAD
IN TIMES OF TROUBLE, I WAS NEVER IGNORED I’LL NEVER FORGET THAT NIGHT HE LEAD ME TO THE LORD
MY HAND IN HIS-WE KNELT&PRAYED
THIS ONE MEMORY I WOULD NEVER TRADE
TRUE UNCONDITIONAL LOVE HE GAVE TO ME
ONLY SURPASSED TO MY KIDS DUSTIN&TIFFANI
HIS PRESENCE WILL BE MISSED NOW THAT WE ARE APART BUT HIS MEMORY STILL LIVES DEEP IN MY HEART
HE’S IN HEAVEN TODAY AND I KNOW THIS IS TRUE AND BY MY SAVIOR’S BLOOD I’M GOING THERE TOO! IT WON’T BE LONG AND I CAN’T WAIT BECAUSE I KNOW YOU’LL BE WITH JESUS STANDING JUST INSIDE THE PEARLY GATE.
I LOVE YOU ALWAYS& FOREVER
YOUR DAUGHTER,
SARA
ALTHOUGH WE ONLY KNEW EACH OTHER BREIFLY IN THIS LIFE,I LOOK FOWARD TO SITTING BESIDE YOU UNDER THOSE BEAUTIFUL CYPRESS TREES YOU TOLD ME ABOUT.I KNOW YOU ARE THERE, AND OH HOW BEAUTIFUL IT MUST BE! YOU WILL BE GREATLY MISSED BY YOUR FAMILY & FRENDS. I’VE HERD YOU SAY MANY TIMES LIFE IS AS A VAPOR, HERE FOR A SHORT WHILE, AND THEN ITS GONE. IN YOUR SHORT TIME YOU TOUCHED SO MANY LIFES, AND EVEN NOW I SEE YOU STILL TOUCHING HEARTS WITH THE SEEDS OF LIFE GOD CAREFULLY ENTRUSTED YOU TO PLANT. I AM PROUD FOR THE OPPORTUNITY JUST TO HAVE KNOWN YOU. I WILL HOLD FAST YOUR TRUST AND ONLY HOPE THE DAY WILL COME SOON WHEN WE ALL GET TO HEAVEN. THANK YOU FOR BEING SUCH A WONDERFULL FATHER-IN-LAW AND MOST OF ALL YOUR FRIENDSHIP WHICH I WAS BLESSED!! LOVE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!! YOUR FRIEND AND SON-IN-LAW DANNY.
The angels are singing
to welcome home,
a faithful friend
his long journey gone.
He lived each day
following God’s way.
Through grave illness and pain,
his faith never swayed.
A kind and gentle soul,
such extremes unknown.
To know him…
a blessing;
God sent him to us
for that we are thankful.
Hold his memories dear
and do as he wished…
CELEBRATE! REJOICE!!
His pain is gone,
his smile imense
singing and shouting
His heart is content.
I LOVE YOU PAPAW!! See you soon! Diane
To Sara Swann, Daughter of Mr. Merrill
I was very sorry to hear about your dad. I am thinking about you.
We are thinking of you and your family. We love you bunches,and are with you in spirit.
Dear Diane and family, Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. May you find comfort in knowing that he is at peace and with the Lord…. love, Beth and Bobbi