" 3 AM July 12, 2007"

Mert passed away. His son Darrell came in from driving down from Tacoma, WA and Stephanie had fallen into an exausted sleep in the chair beside the hospital bed. He was already gone. And apparently very peacefully at that.

The family is here in town and the four great grandchildren are a delight to see, so Norma is in good spirits for the moment. I picked up mom and we went over after I got off work today and spent a couple hours there.

Mert made friends where ever he went , I'm sure most of Jacksonville knew who he was from his walks to Gary West once a week for a "good old fashioned hot dog"

He was a Good Man. I will miss him too.