Jimmie D. Merriman, 81

Jimmie D. Merriman, 81, of St. Marys, died at 11:37 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 10, at Shane Hill Nursing Home, Rockford.

He was born Jan. 30, 1939, in St. Marys, the son of Dale and Goldie (Rostorfer) Merriman.

He married Ruth Ann Adams on Oct. 21, 1961, at the St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in St. Marys; she survives at the residence.

He is also survived by his daughters: Jeanne (Curt) Wurster of St. Marys and Julie (Dave) Roth of Rockford and by his grandchildren: Jessica (Austin) Eschbach of Ada, Jack (Elyssa Sheriff) Roth of Rockford and Curtis Wurster of St. Marys.

He is survived by his sisters: Ruth Snyder-McGlothen of St. Marys and Janet Florence of New Carlisle.

He was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

Jim was a 1957 graduate of St. Marys Memorial High School. He served in the U.S. Army Reserves. He had worked at  New Idea Corp. and then went to work at LeRoi Dresser Corp. in Sidney, where he was a project engineer for 39 years, while farming all of those years and after retirement.

He enjoyed hunting and fishing and spending time with his family and  grandchildren. He also enjoyed line dancing with his granddaughter and attending auctions with his grandson, where he purchased items to restore. He was great at figuring out how to make machinery better and work more efficiently.

Jim loved his wife and the family she gave him above everything else. He made everyone he met feel special, from friends and family to nurses and servers. He was a true gentleman.

He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in St. Marys.

Graveside funeral rites will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Hamilton-Bethel Cemetery, 8264 Mercer Road, Mendon.

Memorial gifts may be given to Zion Lutheran Church in St. Marys and condolences may be sent to Jim’s family via MillerFuneralHomes.net.

Miller Funeral Home, 1605 Celina Road, St. Marys, is entrusted with Jim’s funeral arrangements.