Obituary of Jeri M. Merritt

Jeri Mckenzie Merritt 09/02/1947 - 05/14/2017 After a short fight with an aggressive, fast spreading cancer Jeri has gone to be with her Lord and Savior and the many family and friends who have passed before her. Jeri was fiercely devoted to her family and her church, and a loving and kind friend to all she met. Accompanied by her special dog “Lady-Bug,” Jeri pursued her personal ministry of love at local stores, nursing homes, yard sales and everywhere she went. She liked to collect mementoes of all her travels and photos of every occasion, and displayed them in her home as a constant reminder of all she loved. Jeri is survived by daughter and son-in-law Lauri Merritt-Warren and Marcus Warren; daughter and son-in-law Lisa Merritt Reese and John Reese; and beloved grandchildren Hilary Nickless, Sarah Mae Reese, and Makenzie and Tanah Warren. She is also survived by her sister and brother-in-law Connie and Michael Mayette, and brother John McKenzie. She will also be sadly missed by several nieces and nephews: Darren and Liza Brawn, Allen and Jennifer Brawn, Katelyn Olivier, and Amanda Mayette; extended family members Anita Warren, Jeri and Ken White and their children - Jordan, Brody and Kalli; Patty Kelly, Michaela Carroll, and Bruce Merritt; and her church family of the United Baptist Church in Ellsworth. She also leaves behind a beloved menagerie of special pets: Lady-Bug, her cat Socks, a trio of birds, and several goldfish. Jeri was very proud of her home, her yard and her gardens, which she lovingly decorated for every season and holiday. She loved the wildlife that frequented there - the ducks, hedgehogs, birds at her feeders, bald eagle, owl, flicker and the deer "up in the field". Jeri is pre-deceased by her husband Arnold Merritt, sister Joyce Mckenzie Packard and nephew Andrew Packard as well as many other special friends and family including "Mom” Charity. A celebration of Jeri's life will be held at the United Baptist Church in Ellsworth on May 21st at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider making donations in her name to the Ark Animal Shelter in Cherryfield where she adopted her Lady-Bug.