William Ray Merritt
March 8, 1936 — September 23, 2014
William Ray Merritt
Dr. William Ray Merritt, 78, of Cleveland, Mississippi, passed away Tuesday, September 23, 2014, at Saint Dominic's Hospital in Jackson, Mississippi. A private family service will be held in Laurel, Mississippi.
Ray was born on March 8, 1936, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi to Reverend William Howard Merritt and Ann Hartfield Merritt.
Ray graduated from Taylorsville High School and Jones County Junior College where he played football for the Bobcats on the 1955 Junior Rose Bowl Team. Ray continued his collegiate football career with Northeast Louisiana University, now the University of Louisiana-Monroe, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree. Ray then served in the Mississippi Army National Guard while teaching and coaching at Sandersville High School. He earned his Master's and Doctorate degrees from the University of Southern Mississippi before moving to Cleveland, Mississippi to teach psychology at Delta State University, retiring as Professor Emeritus in 1992.
Ray was preceded in death by his parents; step-mother, Katie Merle Merritt of Laurel, Mississippi; and sister, Elouise Clunan of Sandersville, Mississippi.
He is survived by Carolyn Merritt Weeks of Boyle, Mississippi; daughter Dana Hawkins Killion (Jeff) of Cleveland; and grandsons Williams Hawkins, John Andrew Hawkins, Jacob Killion, and Austin Killion.
Memorials may be made to the 1955 Junior Rose Bowl "Bobcat" Team Scholarship; JCJC Foundation; 900 South Court St, Ellisville, Mississippi 39437.
Ray was born on March 8, 1936, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi to Reverend William Howard Merritt and Ann Hartfield Merritt.
Ray graduated from Taylorsville High School and Jones County Junior College where he played football for the Bobcats on the 1955 Junior Rose Bowl Team. Ray continued his collegiate football career with Northeast Louisiana University, now the University of Louisiana-Monroe, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree. Ray then served in the Mississippi Army National Guard while teaching and coaching at Sandersville High School. He earned his Master's and Doctorate degrees from the University of Southern Mississippi before moving to Cleveland, Mississippi to teach psychology at Delta State University, retiring as Professor Emeritus in 1992.
Ray was preceded in death by his parents; step-mother, Katie Merle Merritt of Laurel, Mississippi; and sister, Elouise Clunan of Sandersville, Mississippi.
He is survived by Carolyn Merritt Weeks of Boyle, Mississippi; daughter Dana Hawkins Killion (Jeff) of Cleveland; and grandsons Williams Hawkins, John Andrew Hawkins, Jacob Killion, and Austin Killion.
Memorials may be made to the 1955 Junior Rose Bowl "Bobcat" Team Scholarship; JCJC Foundation; 900 South Court St, Ellisville, Mississippi 39437.
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