GREENWOOD - Merlyn Rozell Emerson, 95, of Greenwood, died peacefully at his home early Thursday evening, Nov. 10, 2011. He was born to Leroy and Izora Moon Emerson on Aug. 1, 1916, in the town of Italy near Prattsburgh, N.Y. Raised on a family farm, he briefly worked for the Prattsburgh Creamery and spent most of his adult life managing a small town general hardware business. He moved to Delaware in 1984 with his son and daughter-in-law and worked in various capacities through 2008. He was a deacon in the Prattsburgh Baptist Church for many years, and for the last 27 years, an active member of the Cannon Mennonite Church, Bridgeville. He married Edna Schwingle of Ingleside, N.Y., on June 30, 1941. She passed away on Feb. 28, 1975. On Jan. 3, 1987, he married Lydia Bontrager Byler. Surviving are his wife, Lydia; a son, Paul M. Emerson with wife Gail of Harrisonburg, Va.; a daughter, Ruth E. Wetherbee with husband Richard of Bridgeville; six birth children of Lydia, Ruth with husband John Stoltzfus of Chestertown, Md., Lois with husband Phil Demerick of Williamsburg, Va., Regina with husband Gene Miller of Goshen, Ind., Gladys with husband Calvin Maust of Pigeon, Mich., Linda with husband Bruce Mathews of Indianapolis, Ind., Greg Byler with wife Charity of Bridgeville; two special children, Mike Lynch with wife Debbie of Milford, and Linda Schaeffer of Greenwood; 25 shared grandchildren and 18 shared great-grandchildren. Merlyn touched lives by his quiet encouragement and kind ways throughout his long life. Calling hours will be at the Cannon Mennonite Church Sanctuary in Bridgeville, from 3 to 6 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 13, and prior to the funeral. The funeral will be held at the same location at 11 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 14. A graveside service and burial will be held at Italy Hill Cemetery in Italy Hill, Yates County, N.Y., on Tuesday, Nov. 15, at 2 p.m. Memorial contributions can be made to Gideons International for the distribution of God's Word. Arrangements by Fleischauer Funeral Home, Greenwood.