Gerald M. Meritt was born April 28th, 1941, to Jessie and Golda Meritt in Peru, Neb. He passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, on Feb. 19th, 2023, in Show Low. Gerald grew up in Nebraska and graduated from Reynolds High School in 1959. By 1962, he was a father. Gerald moved his family to Winslow in the fall of 1969, where he hired out with the Santa Fe Railroad on Halloween Day. Gerald was well liked by all, and to this day, people still talk about him switching box cars on the lead at Winslow. He retired in 2002 after 33 years of service. Gerald loved to run his metal detector. His favorite hobby was going to the casinos to play video poker. Gerald had a heart of gold and will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him. Gerald is survived by his wife of 34 years, Rosalie; three sons from his first marriage, Ronnie Meritt, John (Allison) Meritt, and Danny (Shirley) Meritt; four sons and two daughters he gained when he married Rosalie on Nov. 18, 1987, Larry Tafoya, Yvonne (Steve) Lankard, Ralph (Shannon) Tafoya, Donnie (Joy) Tafoya, Louie (Cindy) Tafoya and Dolores (Fidel) Lopez. Gerald is also survived by two sisters, Ruth Scrimshaw and Geraldine (Wiley) Kerr; his first wife, Eleanor Meritt, and many grandchildren and a few great-grandchildren. Gerald was preceded in death by his parents, Jessie and Golda Meritt; brothers, Wayne Meritt, Harold Meritt (infant), Kenneth Meritt, Alvin Meritt and Dale Meritt; sisters, Rosella McBratney, and Sharon Richards; and infant grandson, Bentley Dean. Greer’s Mortuary of Winslow handled the arrangements.
