Donald Edward Stewart Merritt, Sr., of Owensville, passed away Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, at his residence.
He was born July 2, 1936, to Crystal Esther Stewart in Little Rock, Ark. Donald was blessed with two fathers — his biological father, Cecil Crews, and the father who raised him, Edgar Harold Merritt, Sr.
He was united in marriage to Karen Rose Banks, March 7, 1970, in Oklahoma City, Okla.
Donald retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Armed Forces. He was a member of the American Legion Post 573 in Rosebud, VFW Post 6133 in Owensville, and a member of the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association Southern Missouri Chapter. He was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Rosebud.
He was preceded in death by fathers, Cecil Crews and Edgar Merritt, Sr.; mother, Crystal Merritt; son, Donald Edward Stewart Merritt, Jr.; sister, Sarah Maxine (Merritt) Leonard; and brother, Cecil Crews, Jr.
Donald is survived by wife, Karen Banks Merritt of the home; daughters, Linda Elaine Merritt of Swiss, Cynthia (Merritt) Moloney and husband Michael of Owensville, and Cheryl Ann (Merritt) Turner and husband Scott of Swiss; siblings, Edgar Harold Merritt, Jr. of Paso Robles, Calif., John Crews of Metamora, Mich., and Jean (Crews) Ryan of Metamora, Mich.; and nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be held Thursday (today), Aug. 8, from 4–8 p.m., at Gottenstroeter Funeral Home in Owensville.
Funeral services will be held Friday, Aug. 9, at 11 a.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Rosebud with Rev. Paul Landgraf officiating.
Burial will be in Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery at Rosebud. He will be buried with full military honors.
