Benjamin B. Merryman Sr.

CAMBRIDGE - Benjamin B. Merryman Sr., 69, was suddenly stricken ill at home on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2007, and died at Dorchester General Hospital.

Born on April 12, 1937, in Callington, Baltimore County, he was the son of the late George Carroll Merryman and Ethel Edith Jones Merryman.

Mr. Merryman was a graduate of Kinwood High School, Overlea.

A U.S. Army veteran, Mr. Merryman served his country from 1953 to 1955.

On Aug. 17, 1957, he married the former Joyce Smith.

In 1963, he and his family moved from White Marsh to Ross Neck Road, Dorchester County.

For all of his working life, he was a truck driver for Phillips Oil Co., for over 20 years. He had also worked for Ward Component, Easton.

Mr. Merryman was a member of the Open Bible Church, Cambridge.

He was also a member of the Neck District Volunteer Fire Department and the VFW Post 7460.

Mr. Merryman enjoyed gardening and the outdoors in general. He liked to travel, collect stamps and coins. He also liked antiques and playing on the computer.

Surviving is his wife, Joyce Smith Merryman of Cambridge; five daughters, Rebecca Ann Scott and her husband, Tim of Springfield, Mo., Shirl Lynn Dahan of Cambridge, Deanna Faye Turillo and her husband, Mike of Mt. Washington, Ky., Christina Joyce Cannon and her husband, Ricky of Cambridge, Elizabeth Irene Dawson and her husband, Danny of Trappe; three sisters, Carol Yox and her husband, Arnold of White Marsh, Shirley Damron of Morriston, Fla., Eunice Schultz and her husband, Bill also of Morriston, Fla.; a brother, George Carroll Merryman and his wife, Libby of Whiteford; 18 grandchildren, Jennifer Willis, Jessica Hales, Timmy and Amber Scott, Danielle M. Dahan, De-Ona A. Dahan, Jennifer N. Moore, John Tyler Moore, Michelle and Christopher Turillo, James R.L. Cannon, Amy L. Cannon, James R. Cannon Jr., Karey L. Cannon, Angelica and Brittany Merryman, Erin and Ian Dawson; 12 great-grandchildren and one expecting to be born in a few months and a mother-in-law, Ollie Smith of Hanover, Pa.

Preceding him in death was a son, Benjamin B. Merryman Jr.; a sister, Ethel Perdue; father-law, Lee Smith and a brother-in-law, Bud Damron.

The family will receive friends Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m., at Curran-Bromwell Funeral Home, P.A., Cambridge. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday at Open Bible Church, 1618 Race St. Officiating at the service will be the Rev. Dave Wooten, pastor. Burial will follow at Dorchester Memorial Park.

Pallbearers will be Ricky Cannon Sr., Richard Cannon, Tim Scott, Mike Turillo, Danny Dawson, Randy Robbins, Bobby Aaron and Jeff Merryman.

Honorary Pallbearers will be John Tyler Moore, Steve Bloodsworth, Jack Smith, Ronald Smith, Ray Brommett and Gil Wagner.

In lieu of flowers, memorial offerings may be made in Mr. Merryman's memory to the Open Bible Church or School, 1618 Race St., Cambridge, MD 21613.