Joseph Daniel Merrick, age 90, passed away in Cabot, Arkansas on June 8, 2021. He was the son of the late Harley and Mozelle Merrick of Mountain Pine, Arkansas and was born on September 22, 1930 in Granite City, Illinois. Dan attended Perry High School and two years at Williams College in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas before going on to Moody Bible Institute where he graduated in 1955. In February of that same year, he and Betty (Smetters) Merrick were married in Chicago, IL.
Dan and Betty heard and accepted God’s call to full-time ministry and went to Central America as missionaries in the summer of 1956. They raised four children and spent 20 years in Central America in a variety of ministries. In Nicaragua they worked in Christian radio, taught at the Nicaragua Bible Institute, ran a Christian bookstore, and finally completed their extensive ministry conducting open air Christian film evangelism to many thousands of Spanish-speaking people from Mexico to Panama.
Dan is survived by his four children, Melody Leach (Bob), Dan Merrick (Chris), Michael Merrick (Vicky), and David Merrick (Christie). He is also survived by his seven grandchildren, Megan Fuller (Justin), Ryan Merrick (Tammy), Kelsey Parker (James), Becky Hall (Hunter), Christopher Merrick (Jill), Luke, and Evan; along with his 12 great grandchildren Vance and Kai Fuller; Lincoln, Dillon, Liam and Emmett Merrick; Carson, Saige, Vivian and Xander Hall; Abe and Collin Merrick. He is also survived by his sister, Mary Kemp of Mountain Pine, AR along with many nieces and nephews.
Dan was preceded in death by his parents, Harley and Mozelle Merrick, Betty Merrick, his wife of 64 years, his brothers and their wives, Art and Margaret Merrick, John and Lois Merrick, Ed and Geraldine Merrick, and Tommy Kemp.
Memorial Service for J. Daniel Merrick will be Saturday July 31 at 2:00 pm at Fellowship Bible Church, 2895 Bill Foster Memorial Hwy W, Cabot, AR 72023.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to purchase Bibles for worldwide distribution may be made to The Gideons International via: sendtheword.org or POBox 140800 Nashville, TN 37214-0800 or (615) 564-5000
Arrangements entrusted to A Natural State Funeral Service, 2620 West Main Street, Jacksonville, Arkansas 72076. 501-982-3400
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