Obituary of Donald L. Merrick, Jr.

Donald Lee "Rusty" Merrick, Jr., age 69, of Ransomville died Wednesday, January 17, 2024, at Mercy Hospital of Buffalo. He was born March 9, 1954, in Blossburg, PA, the son of Ruth Collister Merrick and the late Donald L. Merrick, Sr. He married his High School sweetheart, Barbara Jean Balcom on April 27, 1974. She predeceased him on March 4, 2011. He retired from GM after 30 years of service as a machine repairman. For the next ten years Rusty then ran Gate Security at Ransomville Speedway. He was an avid outdoorsman, hunter, trapper, and fisherman. His pride and joy were his grandchildren. Rusty was the kind of guy that no matter who you were he would be willing to give you the shirt off his back. He loved to help everyone even if that meant he went without. He was preceded in death by his brother and best friend, Lester (Neil) Merrick. He is survived by his children, Michelle (Ted) Adams and Brian Merrick; his beloved grandchildren, Hamza Merrick and Griffin Adams; his mother Ruth (Collister) Merrick; his siblings Harold and Robert Merrick, Sheila (Ed) Schrader, Nancy Merrick, Patricia (Earl) Robins, and Rick (Dee) Merrick. A Gathering of Family and Friends will be held on Monday, February 19 from 5 to 7 pm at HARDISON FUNERAL HOME, 3648 Ransomville Road, Ransomville, NY. Please visit www.hardisonfuneralhomes.com for online condolences.