3 Life History -- 1952 Smoke Coming From Grandma Conley's Garage!

back of Grandma Conley's house

I saw smoke coming from Grandma Conley's garage! My two brothers and I lived with our mom in the attic of the house across the street from Grandma's house. I was six, sick, and had to stay in, so I was looking out the window. When I saw the smoke I knew I should call the fire department, but since I didn't know how, I decided to enjoy the show. I saw the fire engines come (too late!), smoke, flames, people running around, and my four year old brother, Kenny, sneaking back across the street. Later, he confessed to me that he had been playing with matches in Grandma's garage. I was so glad that I had been home sick and couldn't be blamed for the fire.

(I took this picture many years later from my Grandma's driveway in Akron, Ohio. This is the house across the street from her her house that we lived in. The right attic window was where I was watching the fire.)

46 Life History --- Happy 50th Birthday Garrett! 1996

by Cheryl Merrick, Garrett's wife, 1996

Thank you for sharing the last (and best) half with me! We have struggled together and, through the Lord’s help, learned and grown. You have helped me more than you realize. The support you are now able to give to me is helping me to fulfill my calling here upon the earth. When I first met you, I recognized a desire in you to choose the right. This desire has only increased as the years have passed, and has become manifest in your righteous leadership of our family. What has meant the most to me has been your support of me as a mother. You have appreciated my teaching and relating ability and encouraged me to use these talents. You have provided the home and means thus enabling me to always remain home with our children. I am grateful for a man who wanted more than a servant to wait on him, who wanted a full partner and a teacher for our children. Thank you for all you support and encouragement. I like being on your team! Lets go for another 25!

25 Life History -- Serving in Vietnam by Dan Merrick

by his son, Daniel Merrick (school report) 

Garrett Richard Merrick was born on the 15th of December in 1946 in Akron, Ohio. He was 21 when he joined the military service. When he was going to college in Southwest Missouri College he enrolled in some ROTC classes. He knew that as long as he was a student he couldn’t get drafted, but afterwards it was a possibility to be drafted. His plan was that since he was going to be in the army he might as well be an officer. Sure enough, he had to go into the army. He was in the 15th Engineer Battalion. He received his basic training at Ft. Still in Oklahoma in the summer. It was always hot, dirty, and dusty. His training consisted of the use of a rifle, a bayonet and endurance tests. His other training as an engineer was accomplished at Ft. Belvoir, Virginia where he learned to build roads and bridges. Mr. Merrick served one and a half years in Vietnam and Dalat which was where Teddy Roosevelt liked to hunt when he was there. What Mr. Merrick did while he was there was oversee the construction of roads and bridges. 

19 Life History --- Learning Short Hand

Garrett in front of house lived in at SMS

When I was a senior at Licking High School in Missouri, I took short hand because I had already taken all the classes they offered. I attempted to use it at SMS (Southwest Missouri State in Springfield Missouri) for taking class notes, but it didn’t work too well because I had to transcribe it, so I switched to fast printing. I still use short hand a little.

I took my family to Springfield in 1993. This is the apartment I lived in during my freshman year, then when Gerhard Ruf left on his mission, I moved into the Ruf home in Springfield.  

4 Life History -- Childhood Thanksgivings

Fay June, Evelyn, Eunice (Grandma Conley), Pat, & Edith Conley

We spent a lot of time at Grandma Conley’s during my early years.  She was a tiny, thin woman with white hair.  I especially remember how kind and sweet she was.  I also remember some really fine Thanksgiving dinners, always with cranberry sauce, which I ate once and never again.  We always loved to go to Grandma’s house, a place of love and security.

I can remember always being at my Grandma Conley's house for Thanksgiving. The dinners were always good, but I never ate the cranberries.

This is a picture of my grandma Conley's birthday in 1956.