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ROSWELL AUGUSTUS MERRITT, Jr. died on October 10, 2008, from complications of gallbladder cancer. He was born on March 3, 1931, in Chicago, IL, to Roswell Augustus Merritt and Marian Page Munro Merritt. His family moved to Houston in 1939 where he attended Montrose Elementary, Sidney Lanier Jr. High, and graduated with highest honors from Mirabeau B. Lamar High School in 1949. Roz attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, but the Korean Conflict interrupted many college careers and he joined the United States Army. He attained the rank of First Sergeant with the office of Battalion Sergeant Major. He defended our Nation’s Capital at Fort Meade, Maryland, with his skillful use of a typewriter as company clerk. He married Joyce Louise Hugunin of Odon, IN, on October 17, 1952, in Washington DC, and they made their home in Houston after his honorable discharge from the Army. Roz went to work for Municipal Pipe and Fabricating Company in Missouri City, where he remained for more than 40 years. He completed his formal education at the University of Houston.
Joyce died from complications of lung cancer in May 1985, and Roz married Patricia Boren Burns, the widow of one of his best friends, in 1986. Together, Roz and Pat enjoyed retirement by traveling, growing hundreds of tropical hibiscus plants, and playing duplicate bridge at least four days a week for many years. Roz is a past president of the American Hibiscus Society headquartered in Florida. He also served the local AHS Lone Star Chapter as its president, and for many years was the plant sales chairman for both the Lone Star and Space City Chapters.
Roz was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife and mother of his children Joyce Hugunin Merritt, and his brother Paul Munro Merritt. He is survived by his wife of 22 years, Pat Burns Merritt; his children, son Douglas Ray Merritt, M.D. and his wife Lisa Beem Merritt, and Doug’s children Paige Christina and Gregory Evan Merritt all of Grants Pass, OR; son Gary Edward Merritt and his children Grant Evan, Jason Andrew and Hannah Marie Merritt, all of Sugar Land; daughter Diana Merritt Carney and her husband Patrick Carter, and Diana’s daughter Rebecca Joyce Carney all of Spring; and his brother Norman Munro Merritt of Weimar.
A private graveside service will be held at Forest Park Westheimer Cemetery, followed by a memorial service that will be celebrated at 2 p.m. on Friday, October 17, 2008 in the chapel of Forest Park Westheimer Funeral Home, 12800 Westheimer. Friends may visit with the family for one hour prior to and after the memorial service.
In lieu of usual remembrances, Roz requested that memorials be directed to a project that he was working with at the time of his death. The American Hibiscus Society’s Nomenclature Database Project (a 501(c) 3) will be hosted by LSU’s Burden Research Center. AHS Nomenclature, P. O. Box 1580, Venice, FL 34284.