Buxton – John Crafts Merriman, Sr. was born in South Portland on August 15, 1927. He was the son of Wylie F. Merriman and Cora Mealy. John ‘Jack” graduated from South Portland High School in 1945. After high school he worked on his sister’s dairy farm in New Gloucester. Jack served his country in the U.S. Army as a paratrooper stationed in Japan. He worked as a lobsterman for the late Russ Jordan and Edmund (Scup) Olsen of Cape Elizabeth. He and his brother Jay ran a garage for a few years, then Jack & Jay’s Lobster Pound. In 1956 Jack went to work for Oakhurst Dairy as a home delivery route Salesman. He later became a Route Supervisor and Sales Manager. For the last 16 years of his career he served as Vice President of Plant and Production. He was a member of Gorham Kiwanis Club, Planning Board for the town of Gorham and Board of Directors for Oakhurst Dairy. In 1949 he married the late Dorothy Jordan and they raised 8 children, first in So. Portland before settling in Gorham in 1963. At the Gorham farm, Jack raised and sold gladiolas, hay, corn and asparagus for many years. In 2006, he sold the Gorham farm to Nappi Distributors and moved the home, barn, out buildings, and fruit trees to Buxton. In 1994 he married Marlene Dobson Baker. He was predeceased by sons, Dana in 1976, Robert in 1994 and Donald in 2001 and grandsons Dana Allen in 2001 and Jeremy Merriman in 2007. He was predeceased by siblings Wylie, Barbara, Phyllis, June, Janet, Karen, Lucille, Thomas, David and Jay. He is survived by his wife Marlene, son Michael A. of Windham, son John C. Merriman, Jr, of Gorham, daughters Nancy Warren of Hampden, Holly Pride of Windham and Elizabeth of Windham. He is survived by a sister Glennis Skillings of Gray and 2 brothers Richard A. of Westbrook and Ronald D. of Allagash. He will be buried beside his sons in Eastern Cemetery in Gorham. He is also survived by his step children; Cheryl Seely, G. Roger Baker, Jr., Dale Baker, Christopher A. Baker and Jason E. Baker. His 31 grandchildren and 50 great grand-children affectionately call him “Grampa Jack”. Visiting Hours will be held from 5:00 – 7:00PM Saturday January 26, at the Gorham Chapel of Dolby, Blais & Segee 76 State Street Gorham, where a funeral service will be held 11:00AM Sunday January 27. A reception will follow the service at a place to be determined. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals, 279 River Road, Windham, ME 04062 in memory of Jack Merriman. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of John C. Merriman Sr. please visit our Sympathy Store.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of John C Merriman Sr August 15 1927 January 22 2019.
Death notice for the town of: Gorham, state: Maine