Roy Leon Merck

Mr. Roy Leon Merck, age 87, of Gainesville, passed away on Wednesday, February 13, 2019 at his residence surrounded by his family.

Funeral services are scheduled for Saturday, February 16, 2019 at 12:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Free Chapel Worship Center with interment to follow in Memorial Park Cemetery. Reverend Jentezen Franklin and Grandson Reverend Randy Coggins, II will officiate. The family will receive friends on Friday, February 15, 2019 from 2:00-4:00 and 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

Leon was born on July 15, 1931 in Toccoa, Georgia to the late Reverend Roy Lee Merck and Sara Florene Stephens Merck.  The Merck family moved to Gainesville just after the tornado of 1936.  Leon attended Main Street Grammar School and Gainesville High School, graduating in 1948. As a young man in his junior and senior years of high school, Leon worked at Piggly-Wiggly Grocery Store on Main Street in Gainesville.  He began his funeral service career with Hubert Vickers Funeral Home immediately after graduating.  Leon attended Gupton-Jones School of Mortuary Science in Nashville, Tennessee.  Shortly after Mortuary School, with the war going on in Korea, Leon enlisted in the U. S. Air Force, taking him to various parts of the world, east to North Africa and west to the Philippines.  While serving in the USAF, he pursued a business degree at Park College graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in 1974.  Leon retired from the USAF in 1976 as a Chief Master Sargent.  After a few years of working with various departments within Cobb County Government, he retired and returned to Gainesville to work with his brother, Marion Merck and friends at Memorial Park Funeral Home in 1996. These last golden years being the best of his life serving and helping other people.  Leon was a member of Free Chapel Worship Center and was preceded in death by his parents.

Leon is survived by his wife, Donna Marie Merck of Gainesville, son, Josh Merck of Gainesville, daughter, Jan Wendleton of Kansas, brother and sister-in-law, Marion and Pat Merck of Gainesville, children, Scott and Cameron Wilson of Gainesville and Sandy and Randy Coggins of Gainesville, 8 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren and a number of other relatives .

Memorial Park Funeral Home, 2030 Memorial Park Road, Gainesville, GA  30504 is in charge of arrangements.

Send online condolences to www.memorialparkfuneralhomes.com.