Joseph Monroe Merritt, 84, of De Soto died July 4, 2014, at his home. Mr. Merritt was a carpenter and a retired supervisor with Fred Weber Construction. He was a member of Carpenters Union Local 2214 and Zion Lutheran Church in Pevely. Born Dec. 3, 1929, in St. Francois County, he was the son of the late Myrtle Amelia (Govro) and Noah Hamilton Merritt.
He is survived by his wife: Norma (Mertz) Frankenbach Merritt; seven children: Joseph Leroy (Connie) Merritt of De Soto; Elizabeth (Richard) Barks of Festus; Mary (Tom) Cross of Festus; David Frankenbach of Austin, Texas; Cheryl (Vern) Phipps of Clearfield, Utah; Dawn Frandenbach of De Soto and Wendy (Adam) Kuhn of St. Louis; three siblings: Roy (Mary) Merritt of Farmington, Pearl (the late Buddy) Lutz of Ste. Genevieve and Christine (Vernon) McDowell of Bonne Terre; a sister-in-law: Joyce Merritt of Farmington; eight grandchildren: Sarah (Jason) Pashia, Joseph W. (Kelly) Merritt, Christopher (Gail) Barks, Drew (Chelsea) Sawyer, McKenna Phipps, Katie Frankenbach, Caleb Kuhn and Josua Kuhn; and six great-grandchildren: Jacob Merritt, Ryan Merritt, Evan Pashia, Addison Pashia, Julia Pashia and Christopher Barks Jr. He was preceded in death by his first wife: Helen (O’Dell) Merritt; and two siblings: Noah Merritt Jr. and Anna (the late Donald) Nations.
Visitation is scheduled from 4-8 p.m. Tuesday, July 8, at Vinyard Hillcrest Funeral Home in Pevely. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 9, at Zion Lutheran Church in Pevely, officiated by the Rev. W. Mart Thompson. Burial is in the Zion Lutheran Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Zion Lutheran Church, the church Cemetery Fund or to a charity of the donor’s choice. Arrangements are under the direction of Vinyard Funeral Home.