MERRILL L. OVERTURF

1938-2020

Merrill L. Overturf, 82, of Tiki Island, Texas, died sud- denly in December 2020, in Galveston, Texas. No services are planned at this time.

Merrill was born in Iowa to Roy C. and Pauline H. (McCarty) Overturf. After graduating from Ottumwa High School, Merrill attended the University of Iowa, where he received his undergraduate and graduate degrees. He earned his Ph.D. in Physiology and Biochemistry at the University of Iowa College of Medicine in 1970, and it was there that he began his academic career. In 1972 he moved to Houston, where he was one of the first faculty members of the Department of Internal Medicine at the newly formed University of Texas Medical School at Houston (now UT Health McGovern Medical School). He enjoyed his career in research and in teaching and mentoring medical students, residents, and fellows. After 45 years as a faculty member at McGovern Medical School, he retired in 2017.

Merrill’s love of fishing and hunting was well known to his friends, many of whom enjoyed spending the day with him on his boat in the Gulf of Mexico. Catching fish was fun, but his greatest joy was being with his friends while experiencing the beauty of the Gulf. Annual summer trips to Northwest Ontario to visit and fish with his Canadian family were also special times for him.

Merrill’s kindness, friendship, joy, and sense of humor will be missed by his family, friends, and professional colleagues. Merrill is survived by his wife of 47 years, Linda; and by his sister Linda Rowlen, and her husband Dan of Houston. He is also survived by his brother- and sister-inlaw David and Connie Smidt of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, and his sister-in-law Carole Smidt of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Nephews and nieces also survive.