Edwin Ray Merritt

Edwin "Ray" Merritt, of Jacksonville, has entered into eternal rest. Ray grew up and graduated high school in Pensacola, Florida. Ray was a veteran of the United States Air Force and served as a Radar Mechanic during his enlistment. He received a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from Auburn University. Ray worked and relocated with several companies over the years and eventually settled in Jacksonville: Conair - Search Radar for the B58-Hustler; Vitro Services – S-Band and C-Band Radar Engineer, worked with NASA at the Marshall Space Flight Center designing and testing the Rough Combustion Cutoff Equipment for the Saturn Vehicle tests; General Dynamics- maintained the specification and design for the attack radar on the F-111 airplane; Purchased, Owned, and Operated Merritt Moving & Storage in Jacksonville for 40 years, along with his wife Jackie Merritt. Ray enjoyed family gatherings, sports, music, church, reading, electronics, computer programming, and Math. Ray and Jackie were foster parents to many special needs children over the years, assisting until children met their adoptive families. A loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, son, brother, and uncle. He was devoted to caring, singing, transporting, rocking, holding, reading, teaching, joking, playing games, and absolutely loving his heart sparkles that called him "Bompie". Ray was a wonderful kind man and walked as a role model for others. His inspiration was to give it your all because everyone around you was dependent on your actions. He will be deeply missed. Ray is survived by his children: Jim, Jeff(Brenda) , Greg(Carol), Stephanie(Larry), Scotty(Jenny), and Jason; fifteen grandchildren, twenty-six great grandchildren, sister-in-law Peggy(Bob), brother-in-law Donald, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and many young men and women whose lives he touched through Merritt Moving & Storage. He was preceded in death by his loving wife Jackie, parents: Annie and Lofton, sisters: Mary, Jackie, Marilyn, and brother Lofton. His family will host a gathering of friends and family 11:00am-1:00pm, Monday, April 29, 2024, at Murray Hill United Methodist Church, 4101 College Street, Jacksonville, followed by interment at Jacksonville National Cemetery at 2:30pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to one of the following organizations he supported: Developmental Learning Center, Jacksonville (www.DLCNL.org) or www.pinecastle.org, the facility for adults with intellectual and developmental differences. Warren Funeral Services of Baldwin is honored to serve the Merritt family.