Obituary of Linda A. Merritt

GOUVERNEUR – Linda A. Merritt, age 78, passed away on Sunday, December 23, 2018 at Claxton Hepburn Medical Center in Ogdensburg. Linda was born on October 5,1940 in Gouverneur, NY, a daughter of Howard and Gladys Whittaker. She was a 1958 graduate of Gouverneur High School, attended Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam for 1 year and served in the United States Navy from 1959 until her honorable discharge in 1962. After her discharge from the Navy she worked for Gouverneur Iron Works. On April 20, 1963, Linda married Richard E. Merritt in the Spragueville United Methodist Church with Rev. Louis Hewitt officiating. Mr. Merritt passed away in August of 2000. Mrs. Merritt is survived by her 4 children: Colleen Crogan and husband, Donald of Painted Post, NY; Martin Merritt and wife, Aimee of Stafford Springs, CT; Ellen Kinney and husband, David of Chateauguay, NY; Gary Merritt of Laurel, MT; 6 grandchildren: Nathan Kinney and wife, Christina, Hannah Armstrong and husband, Sam, Isaac Kinney, Logan Merritt, Michaela Merritt, and Molly Merritt. She is also survived by 7 brothers and sisters: James Whittaker, Christine Ozburn, Connie Kramer, Kathryn Church, Nora Geer, Philip Whittaker, and Paul Whittaker. Calling hours will be held at the Christian Life Fellowship in Gouverneur on January 19, 2019 from 11:00am-1:00pm with her funeral immediately following at 1:00 p.m. Arrangements are with French Funeral Home in Gouverneur. Condolences may be shared online at www.frenchfuneralhomes.com. Donations in memory of Linda may be made to the Christian Life Fellowship, 52 Church Street, Gouverneur NY 13642 or to Hospice of St. Lawrence Valley, 6805 US Hwy 11, Potsdam NY 13676.