Dr. H.T. Merrell

Marion Dr. Hosmer T. Merrell, formerly of Marion, died Saturday, February 24,2007 at his home in the Pine Valley Residential Community of Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Hos was born June 5, 1915 in Rockford, Illinois and spent his childhood in Streator, Illinois. He attended Illinois Wesleyan, graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Illinois (Champaign-Urbana) and received his medical degree from University of Illinois (Chicago) Medical School. A nursing student, Mary Jane Mentz, caught his eye while he was completing his internship in general medicine at Chicagos Cook County Hospital. They were married April 23, 1942. During World War II, Dr. Merrell served as a Captain in the Army-Air Force Medical Corps in both the European and Pacific fronts. Following the war he and his young family moved to Marion where he was in private medical practice for twenty seven years. He had a great love for his many patients and was proud to have brought so many Marionites into this world. After leaving private practice Dr. Merrell served with Southern Illinois University Student Health in Carbondale and with the Veterans Administration Hospital in Marion. In 2001 he and Mary Jane moved to Tuscaloosa to be near Jim and his family. Dr. Merrell was a devoted member of the First United Methodist Church in Marion. Hos loved classical music and was an emeritus member of the Board of the Marion Cultural and Civic Center. He was an avid sports fan and was known to become quite upset if his St. Louis Cardinals did not perform as he liked. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends and by his cat, Sweetie-Pie. The family is grateful to LaShunn and Anthony Sherman of Tuscaloosa and to the staffs at Pine Valley and Hospice of West Alabama for their kind care during his illness. Survivors include daughter Linda Wertheim (George) of San Francisco; son Jim Merrell (Kathy) of Tuscaloosa; granddaughter Erika Merrell of Oxford, Ohio; grandson David Merrell of Tuscaloosa; niece Sandra Blankenship (Bill) of Marion; nephew Bill Burger (Marianne) of Butte, Montana; a sister Jean Weaver (Buck) of Matteson, Illinois; and children and grandchildren of Sandra, Bill and Jean. Dr. Merrell was preceded in death by his parents, Hosmer T., Sr. and Freda Merrell; a son, David Merrell; a sister, Marjorie Burger; and his wife of 62 years, Mary Jane Merrell. Funeral services will be Saturday, March 3, 2007 at 11:00 A.M. at Mitchell-Hughes Funeral Home in Marion with Rev. Victor Long officiating. Burial will follow in East Lawn Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be Friday, March 2 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to the Marion Cultural and Civic Center, First United Methodist Church,. or the charity of your choice. Envelopes will available at Mitchell-Hughes Funeral Home or by mail at 800 North Market Street, Marion, Il 62959.