Mark T. Merriman, 50

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LISBON - Longtime sports enthusiast and community booster Mark T. Merriman passed away at his home on Glenn Road in Lisbon at 11 p.m. Sunday, June 28, 2009. He was 50.

Born in East Liverpool on Sept. 15, 1958, he was the son of the late Frank and Florence Rippeth Merriman and had spent his lifetime in this area.

A 1976 graduate of Beaver Local High School, Mark was a member of the golf team for four years, including the undefeated team in 1972. He was a three-year letterwinner and two-time MVP, and qualified for districts twice. In addition to his love of golf, Mark also became involved in the football and basketball programs at BLHS in 1972 as the statistician, and continued throughout the rest of his life. Last season marked his 36th year of continuous record-keeping for Beaver Local football, in addition to doing local radio coverage and newspaper correspondence for many years.

Mark's golfing ability enabled him to earn a scholarship to Youngstown State University. Following college, he became associated with M&M Vending in sales and service, and he also sold sporting goods and office supplies at one time. He had also been in sales at the Sherwin-Williams paint store in downtown East Liverpool.

For many years, Mark served as the bar steward at the East Liverpool Elks Lodge 258. He was also a member of the American Legion 70, the Moose Lodge 122 and was also a member of the men's auxiliary of the VFW 66.

Mark was a lifetime member of the 1st Church of the Nazarene in East Liverpool.

Surviving him at home is his wife, Dana Turkaly Merriman, whom he married on May 24, 2003.

Also surviving is one stepdaughter, Amber Childers, and her husband, Darin, of Cowpens, S.C., along with three stepgrandchildren: Dylan, Chase and Shelby. He will also be missed by numerous nephews and nieces and countless friends.

In addition to his parents, Mark was preceded in death by one sister, Sue Ann Leslie, who passed away on Feb. 16, 2008.

Services will be held at the Dawson Funeral Home at 11 a.m. Thursday, with Chaplain Duane Hetzer of East Liverpool City Hospital officiating. Burial will take place at the Leslie Family Farm.

Friends may call at the funeral home from 2-8 p.m. Wednesday, where an Elks service will be held at 7 p.m.

Contributions may be sent to the Mark Merriman Beaver Local Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 2503, East Liverpool, Ohio 43920, or the Elks Christmas Committee, 620 Broadway, East Liverpool, Ohio 43920.

View this obituary and send condolences online at www.dawsonfuneralhome.com