Francis Leroy Merrick

Francis (Frank) Leroy Merrick, born on September 27, 1934 in Marion, Ohio, passed away in Grants, NM on January 14, 2021 at the age of 86.

After high school Frank served in the U.S. Army for 2 years as a demolitions expert. He later met and married Neva A. Luther in Springfield, Colorado in 1957,  and their early years of marriage were spent traveling and living in many different communities as Francis  worked as a dynamiter and surveyor with Century Geophysical from 1954 to 1972. In 1972 Frank went to work for Kerr-McGee as an electronical logger in the uranium industry and that landed them in Grants, NM where they settled for a good many years and raised their two daughters. In 1978 with the decline in the uranium industry he was sent to Casper, Wyoming. Eventually, Frank changed careers and sold insurance in Denver, Colorado and then Albuquerque.  After retiring, Frank and Neva moved back to Grants in the 90’s to be close to the daughters and grandchildren.

Frank was active in the community volunteering on the City of Grants Recreation Board, Future Foundations, Grants High School Tennis, the Republican Party and Mt. Taylor Quadrathlon. Over the years you could find him at the sports fields with the grandkids, and at the dog park as he was the family dog sitter, which he did faithfully every day until he could no longer drive.

Frank was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Neva A. Merrick; his adoptive parents, Jessie and Roderick Merrick; his biological mother Agnes Moenick; brother Fredrick Merrick and wife Janet; brother-in-law Ted Richards; and step-granddaughter Hillary Jaramillo.

Frank is survived by his two daughters, Ann Mattila and husband Randy of Grants; Laura Jaramillo and husband Mike of Grants; grandchildren Marcie and husband Jeremy Chavez, Francis and wife Kristin Malaj, Michael Jaramillo; siblings Mickey and husband Joy Foster of Arizona, Keith and wife Barbara Sanderson of Ohio,  and Joan Richards of Arizona; and four beautiful great granddaughters, Jenna, Natalie, Katelyn and Lyra;

A memorial service for Frank and Neva, who passed away within days of each other will be held at a later time with the immediate family.