Louis Raymond Merrell

Louis Raymond "Ray" Merrell, 96, a longtime Liberty resident, passed away peacefully on September 9, 2019, at Liberty Hospital with family at his side. Visitation will begin at 9:00 am, followed by a service celebrating Ray's life at 10:30 am, on Saturday, September 14, at Park Lawn Northland Chapel, I-35 at State Route 291, Liberty, MO. Burial with military honors will follow at Resurrection Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Toys for Tots.

Ray was born December 11, 1922, in Carrollton, MO. He proudly served as a U.S. Marine Corps Raider in the Pacific during World War II. Ray was united in marriage to Helen Treece on Easter Sunday, April 21, 1946, in Sweet Springs, MO.

One of Ray's first jobs was working as a manager for MFA at Carrollton, Hamilton and Moberly. He later worked 28 years as a meat department manager for Schoeller's United Super Grocery in Liberty, and was a real estate agent for Century 21 in Liberty when he retired.

Ray was a member of the Liberty Christian Church, was a 65-year Mason affiliated in Hamilton and Liberty, and was a member of Liberty American Legion Post 95 and Liberty VFW Post 4043. He was also an Honorary Warrior in the Tribe of Mic-O-Say.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest Merrell and Edith (Uhrig) Merrell; and siblings, Paul Merrell, Naomi Merrell, Ernestine Wheeler, Norma Jones, Mildred Malan and Harold Nelson.

Survivors include his wife of 73 years, Helen; children, Debbie Hopper (Jim) and Alan Merrell (Lee); grandchildren, Jason Ireland (Glenda), Richard Merrell and Lynn Merrell; great grandchildren, Kolby, Chase, Lexus, Ryder, Krystal and Cheyenne; sisters, Dorothy Turner and Cora Lee Morris; as well as many nieces, nephews, other family members and friends.

Ray never knew a stranger. He will be fondly remembered for his laugh, kind words and as a willing helper for others. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather and will be greatly missed by all.

Visitation will begin at 9:00 am, followed by a service celebrating Ray’s life at 10:30 am, on Saturday, September 14, at Park Lawn Northland Chapel, I-35 at State Route 291, Liberty, MO. Burial with military honors will follow at Resurrection Cemetery.