Donald R. Merritt

Donald Ray Merritt, Sr., 66, of Dunn, formerly of Asheboro, died Saturday, May 20, 2017, at UNC Hospital, Chapel Hill. Mr. Merritt was born June 10, 1950, in Durham County, a son of the late Norman Watts Merritt and Mary Magalene Newton Merritt Sweatt. He was formerly employed by the City of Asheboro. A celebration of life will be held at 6:00 p.m. Friday, May 26, 2017 at Ridge Funeral Home Chapel. He is survived by his wife, Janice Clodfelter Merritt, of the home; four children, Angela Merritt O'Neal, and her husband, John, of Benson, Cristi Ramirez, and her husband Frank, of Riverdale, Georgia, Donald Ray Merritt, Jr. (Bubba), and his wife, Marla, of Sophia, and David Paul Merritt, and his wife, Caroline, of Dunn; he is also survived by three sisters, Gwen Maynard of Dunn, Judy Stillwell, and her husband, Bobby, of Asheboro, and Norma Jean, and her husband, Carlton, of Durham; two brothers, Olin Sweatt, Jr. of Asheboro, and Ricky Merritt of Chapel Hill; 14 granchildren, Joseph, Ashley, Amber, José, Juan, Katie, Yadira, Isiah, Jessica, Jonathan, Jason, Bryson Lee, Mason Alexander and Nathan Gattison; 4 great-grandchildren, Matthew, Alyssa, Krimson, Bryson; two aunts, Beulah Porter of Wake Forest, and Jewell Blackwood, of Chapel Hill; and one uncle, Jack Newton, Jr. of Valdosta, Georgia. The family will receive friends immediately following the service at the funeral home. By request of the family, no flowers please. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the family to assist with travel expenses.