John Winston Merriott

Private memorial services will be later for John Winston Merriott, 82, DeWitt.Mr. Merriott died Saturday, July 22, 2006, in Lansing.He was born Nov. 17, 1923, in Kansas City, Mo., the son of Daniel and Edith McKimens Merriott. He received a doctorate from Kansas University in 1965. He was a longtime resident of Lawrence, Kan.Mr. Merriott retired from the Michigan Department of Public Health as chief of virology. He enjoyed spending time with his children, grandchildren and black pug, Chandler. He also enjoyed hunting, fishing and gardening.He married Marjorie Denton on Feb. 6, 1947, in Lawrence. She survives, of the home.Other survivors include two daughters, Gayle Durbin and husband Robert, Olathe, Kan., and Jan Williams and husband Michael, Grand Rapids; a brother, Daniel E., Prairie Village, Kan.; eight grandchildren, Neil, Brian, Christin, Cory, John, Jared, Jordan and Adam; a great-grandchild, Brett; a niece, Denise, and many other nieces and nephews.A son, Daniel C.; a daughter, Marilyn Marie Faccio; his parents; and two sisters, Helen Varner and Lucie Scheufler, all died earlier.The family suggests memorials to the American Heart Assn., sent in care of Osgood Funeral Home, 104 E. Cass St., St. Johns, MI 48879.