Edward G. Merritt

EDWARD G. MERRITT Memorial services for longtime area resident Edward G. Merritt will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 6 at the First United Methodist Church in Cortez. Ed passed away at his home on Saturday, May 30, 2009 at the age of 87 following a lengthy illness. He was born in Dayton, Ohio to Edward and Louise (Miller) Merritt on October 13, 1921. Ed grew up in Chicago and when his father died at a young age, he entered the workforce at the tender age of 14 to help support his mother. His life led him into World War II, and he served in the Army as a Lieutenant, becoming a medical doctor and serving at the Fitzsimmons Army Hospital in Denver. While in Denver, Ed was invited to attend a party, but didn’t have a date. Being a good friend, his fellow officer “loaned” his girlfriend, June Lee Reary, to Dr. Merritt. Dr. Merritt and June were married in 1948, and they made a wonderful life together until her battle with cancer ended in 1993. During his Fitzsimmons tenure in 1948, word was received that the little mountain town of Dolores needed a doctor immediately. Local business people made the wheels turn quicker than normal and Dr. Merritt was released from the Army a few months early to meet the needs of this community. He thought he was only going to stay a couple of years and go back to the big city, but he was overwhelmed by the opportunities and the warmth of a small town, and stayed. His first passion was his dedication to the medical profession. As a family practitioner and surgeon, his patients always came first. He had office hours seven days a week, and when he started office calls were $2 a visit. Making house calls was routine for Dr. Merritt, 24 hours a day. “If they can’t come to me, I’ll go to them,” he was heard saying. Once a week he drove the windy, dirt road to Rico to take care of the miners and their families. Dr. Merritt was never seen without his black medical bag: whether it be at Groundhog taking care of friends, strangers broken down by the side of the road, or at rodeos helping the cowboys. He always showered, shaved, and put on a suit whenever he was called, even if it was in the middle of the night. His many interests included hunting and fishing, flying, and golf in retirement. His investments also took much of his time; his ranch in Arriola, the Anasazi Motel and Restaurant, and Dolores State Bank. Dr. Merritt was instrumental in creating Montezuma Water Company (MVI), the San Juan Basin Technical College, the Plywood Plant near Dolores, and the Dolores State Bank. He was active in Masons, Eastern Star, Rainbow Girls, Shrine, Rotary and was a charter member of the Cortez Elks Lodge. He served as President of the Mesa Verde Museum Association, and MVI. He was on the vestry of St. Barnabas, and on the boards of Dolores Schools, the Colorado Bankers Associations, and the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. He was Chairman of the Board of Dolores State Bank for the fifty years of its existence, was President for many years. Because of his many accomplishments he was named Dolores Citizens of the Year in 1980. Surviving Dr. Merritt are his wife, Jeanne Seerley of Denver; and his three children, Pam Rule of Delta Junction, Alaska, Edward Merritt and wife, Sheryl of Dolores, and Debbie Baker and Kevin Lovett of Cortez. He also leaves behind six wonderful grandchildren and six great grandchildren. Dr. Merritt will be remembered for the many lives he touched. In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to the Dolores State Bank for an educational scholarship.