Highland Center, in Southeast Iowa | I copied/pasted the following obit directly from our local paper. I didn't know this fella from a load o' hay, but thought this was one of the most original, truthful obituaries I'd ever read. Made me wish I'd had a chance to meet him. I can only hope that somebody can say that about me someday (not soon).
James Edward Merchant, 61, of Ottumwa, also known as “Jim Ed” to his momma, “Leroy” to his friends, “Dad,” “Brother,” “Grandpa,” and a few other colorful names that are not couth to mention in a public paper, passed over to the better side on August 25, 2016 at his home. We heard that he got his nickname of Leroy in his youth during an altercation in Chicago starring his older brother, Tom. True or not, the details are best left to the imagination.
Jim died at home in the presence of his family. He always said that when it was his time to die that he wanted to go from “the big one” in the middle of his tomato patch. Summer was his favorite season, so he came darn close, sans “the big one” and the tomatoes.
He was preceded in death by his father, Merrill Merchant, his mother, Virginia Bailey Merchant, his wife, Maureen O’Leary Merchant, his honorary brother, Mike “Snake boy” Poole, and his liver.
He is survived by his wife, Jo Ann Cardwell Merchant. His 5 children with wife Maureen: Melissa, Sarah (Matt) Burkhalter, Jimmy, Nikki (Nick) Glancy, and Joe. His step children: Roger and Rhonda Brownfield. His siblings: Myron, Tom, Jean Sorsen, Mary Blumer, Jon, and Bill. His grandchildren: Lily, Sophia, and Isaac Burkhalter, Tyler Merchant, Logan Glancy, James, Krissi, and Brittany Blodgett. And Mark Sheets “Bird Dog”, the endangered species.
He graduated from OHS in 1973 (without honors). He worked as a paper boy and a brick layer. He worked on the railroad and on a pipeline. He was a member of the Iowa National Guard. He was a gold star employee at Everco for 15 years where he gained many lifelong friends. In his early 40’s he enrolled in college and became a registered nurse. He was an RN at Cargill in Ottumwa for 15 years.
He was a lover of good music, math, history, Soap Creek, and sweet corn. He was a long suffering Cub’s fan, a decent guitar player, an avid morel mushroom hunter, a fisherman, a star gazer, and a whopper of a story teller. He had his children believing, for the first few years of their life, that he was either James Taylor or Jesus Christ. He ran a trap line every year to pay for his kids’ Christmas presents. He always went to work even if he didn’t feel good. If something broke, he fixed it. If you were hungry, he filled your belly. If you were sad, he made you laugh. Above all, he was a loyal friend, father, brother, and husband.
Jim requested to be cremated with no viewing. We figured that not seeing him sitting in a lawn chair, wearing bib overalls and holding a beer in his hand just wouldn’t be natural.
Memorial services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at Reece Funeral Home with Pastor Don Kirchner officiating.
Visitation with the family present will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday. Memorials may be made to Hospice Serving Davis and Wapello Counties, 927 Pennsylvania Ave. Ottumwa, IA 52501.
…”So goodnight you moonlight ladies, rockabye sweet baby James, deep greens and blues are the colors I choose, won’t you let me go down in my dreams, and rockabye sweet baby James”…
Edited by Mrs B 8/29/2016 15:15
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