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1 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW UPDATED: Oregon House approves landmark minimum wage proposal ... Massive boulders blocking Douglas County road blasted with TNT ... New wolf makes its way to Southern Oregon ... UPDATED: Oregon House approves landmark minimum wage proposal ... Massive boulders blocking Douglas County road blasted with TNT ... New wolf makes its way to Southern Oregon ... James "Jim" Arthur Merry Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Feb. 11, 2016 at 2:00 AM Updated Feb 11, 2016 at 11:12 AM Posted Feb. 11, 2016 at 2:00 AM Updated Feb 11, 2016 at 11:12 AM » Social News Jim Merry, 69, of Talent, Ore. passed away peacefully Friday, February 5, 2016 at home, after a long struggle with lung cancer and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Jim was born February 12, 1946 in Billings, Mont. He lived in Minnesota, Washington, and Oregon. At age 15, he went to live with his mother’s brother, Arthur Schmude and his wife, Opal in New Hampton, Mo. At 18, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving at Ft. Campbell, Ky. and Fort Bragg, N.C., before he was deployed to Vietnam with the 82nd Airborne Division’s Aviation Battalion as an aircraft electrician and a paratrooper from 1966-67. Returning to Missouri after his tour of duty, he farmed in Holt, Mo. In 1974, he sold his farm and moved to Oregon where he met his lovely bride, Gayle Roberts. They married August 20, 1977, and settled in Talent, Ore. He was an owner-operator truck driver, making weekly trips up and down the west coast for the next thirty years. Jim loved children of all ages and never missed an opportunity to play with them. After retiring in 2007, he had daily breakfasts and coffee with his buddies at the Phoenix Iron Skillet, then went up to his ranch to feed his cows and chickens and to collect the daily batch of eggs. He also loved his daily trips to the Subway sandwich shop for lunch. He loved hunting, fishing, cutting logs, chopping firewood, gardening, and in later life collecting coins, playing computer games, and watching westerns. He is survived by his beloved wife of 38 years, Gayle; his brothers, Pete, Mark, and Luke; his sisters, Ruth, Esther, and Martha; sons, Timothy and Michael; his grandchildren, Mason, Kody, J.T., and Krista; his aunts, Marjorie and Evelina; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Dorothy; his aunt, Opal; and his uncle, Arthur; and his two brothers, John and Paul. The family would like to extend a special thanks to Dr. Dibb, Dr. Fennell, Dr. Brower, and Dr. Folsom, as well as all those who cared for Jim, for their professionalism and care during his long illness. A memorial celebration of his life will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, February 13, 2016, at the Perl Funeral Home Chapel, 2100 Siskiyou Blvd., Medford, Ore. 97504. He will be interred at the Eagle Point National Cemetery at a private ceremony with military honor. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Lung Association or a charity of your choice. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Feb. 11, 2016 at 2:00 AM Updated Feb 11, 2016 at 11:12 AM You may leave your condolences or share memories by signing the Guest Book here » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501