Cecil Merritt

Cecil Ray Merritt, 91, of Gadsden, AL., died December 7, 2024, leaving behind the love of his life, his wife of 39 years, Carolyn Merritt.

Cecil was born July 16, 1933, near Chidester, AR., a stone’s throw from Crain Cemetery, to Euell Braxton (Cooter) and Ruby Arrington Merritt. He grew up in and around Ouachita County, graduating from Camden High School in 1953, where he participated in football, basketball and track and field. He went on to Georgia Tech in Atlanta as a co-op student, alternating quarters studying and working at International Paper Company (IP) in Camden before graduating with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.

He married Virginia Russo in 1957 and had two children, Brad Merritt and Karen Merritt Mortazavi.

Cecil’s first full-time job was at IP in Bastrop, LA., and his last was at IP in Pineville, LA. He also worked for IP in Alabama and New York. He absolutely loved working in engineering at the paper mills, where he worked on large projects in all areas, including HVAC, paper machine efficiency and the pulp mill.

In between his first and last jobs at IP, he worked in technical sales and operations in various states, including Louisiana, Virginia, Texas and Mexico City, Mexico. Cecil enjoyed living and working in Mexico. He loved the people and culture and took advantage of living there to explore the country.

Cecil was an engineer’s engineer and could fix just about anything. He loved DIY projects. He had a passion for history, especially WWII, motorcycles and sailing. He enjoyed traveling and, for a small town boy, was a great adventurer. He was scuba diving back in 1956 in the rivers of Ouachita County, was a small-plane pilot at one point, travelled on a solo motorcycle journey to Mazatlán, Mexico and sailed as part of a crew of three from South Africa to Brazil. He also loved sports, especially football, baseball and soccer, and YouTube videos, as well as dogs of any breed. Dogs were always part of his family.

He married Carolyn Long Snider in 1985 and inherited two amazing daughters, Mona Snider Maddox and Ginger Snider Merritt.

Of all his loves, Cecil adored his family most. He was interested in the family tree and loved reunions where old family stories were shared. He was there for his friends and family at big moments such as graduations, funerals and weddings, often driving long distances through the night to attend. He was also there for friends and family in small moments, sharing know-how and helping with projects, large and small.

Cecil was preceded in death by his parents, Euell Braxton (Cooter) and Ruby Arrington Merritt, and his brother, Tyrone Merritt. He is survived by his wife, Carolyn Merritt; his son, Brad Merritt (Editha); his daughters, Karen Merritt Mortazavi (Kaivon); Mona Snider Maddox; and Ginger Snider Merritt. He is also survived by his nephew, Greg White; and his nieces, Teresa White, Roxann (David) Caudell, Cami (Tom) Stepp and Jennifer (Buck) James; and his grandchildren and grand-nieces and -nephews, Chase and Daniel, Melanie and Cheryl, Cooper and Morgan, Brittani, Ty, Grayson and Major. His beloved sister, Kay White, died five days after he did. They were close in life and death.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 15 at Bell Chapel Church, 267 Highway 76, in Chidester, Ark. with burial to follow at Bell Chapel Cemetery. Visitation will follow the service at noon and lunch will be provided by the church at 1:00. If you can stay for lunch, please rsvp to Donna Lampkin Stephens at Stephens@conwaycorp.net by March 1.

In lieu of flowers, donations to Mailman’s Mutts in Gadsden, Ala., www.facebook.com/mailman’smutts/ and Bell Chapel Church or Cemetery, 267 Highway 76, Chidester, AR 71726 are appreciated.