Tom Medearis Merriman

On Thursday, February 27, 2020, Tom Medearis Merriman, loving husband and father of four children, passed away at the age of 86.

Tom was born on May 12, 1933 in Tahlequah, OK to Pastor Clarence Justian (CJ) and Minnie Mae Merriman. He served in the US Navy from 1952 to 1956 and proudly served on the minesweeper USS Illusive in the Pacific, serving in Hawaii and on Kwajalein Atoll. He was a San Diego Police Officer for 10 years after serving in the Navy and received his Associates degree in Police Science from San Diego City College. He later worked in the trucking industry as an owner-operator for Global Van Lines, Atlas Van Lines, and Allied Van Lines, and ultimately formed his own company, Tom Merriman Trucking. Tom drove across the United States hundreds of times as a long-haul trucker, and having served in the Navy in Hawaii and vacationed in Alaska, Tom proudly had been to all 50 US states.

On April 22, 1954, he married Willene Anne Odell in Honolulu, HI. They raised two daughters, Terri Kisselovich (Ken), San Diego, CA; Lori Thomas, Colorado Springs, CO; and two sons, Tom Merriman, Jr. (Maritza), Tucson, AZ; and Tim Merriman (Lynell), Tucson, AZ.

Tom is survived by his wife Willene, his four children, Terri, Lori, Tom Jr., and Tim, his sister JoAnne Martin of Oklahoma City, OK, and nine grandchildren Michael Newbold, Casey Merriman, Jakob Merriman, Koll Merrriman, Adin Merriman, Rachel Merriman, Kailah Merriman, Alissa Merriman, and Joey Merriman, and one great-grandchild, Elise Newbold.

After retirement, Tom and Willene enjoyed many years of RV adventures and the company of their many pets. In accordance with his wishes, Tom’s ashes will be scattered on the open roads he loved trucking across the United States.

A celebration of life will be planned for family and friends at later date. Remembrances in his honor can be made to the Pikes Peak Humane Society or Abode Hospice.