45 Life History --- 1990 Mom's Funeral

Ken and I flew to Akron in August 1990 to attend Mom’s funeral.  Mel and Kathy did a fine job of handling all the arrangements.  I gave him $500, in hopes that it was an appropriate amount to help with his expenses.  We renewed acquaintances with many relatives, especially enjoying Aunt Peggy, as usual, and Aunt Floy Rollyson Hilbert.

40 Life History --- 1970 Trip Home After Touring Europe While Serving in Vietnam; Last Assignment in Vietnam

I took my return journey through Paris and London, flew to Philadelphia, visited the folks in Akron, flew thru Anchorage, Hawaii, Cam Ranh Bay, and back to Don Duong in Vietnam.  After a few more months there, I spent my last couple months at Phu Bai near the ancient imperial capital of Hue.

1 Life History -- 1946 Birth of Garrett Merrick

I was born on 15 December 1946, the second of three sons born to Lillian Edith Conley and Charles Aaron Jarvis. Melvin Charles Jarvis Merrick, my older brother, arrived previously on 29 March 1945. My younger brother, Kenneth Ray, came along on 10 November 1948. We were all born in Akron, Ohio.

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.