Merrit had kidney failure our senior year and was unable to graduate.  He had a kidney transplant that sustained him for 15 years.  He was a gentle soul, and would give the shirt off of his back for anyone.  He loved his sisters and his only worry in life was that they would be okay when he died.  He had been living in Las Vegas.  He passed on January 15th, 2007 at the age of 44 from heart attack/kidney failure.  Merrit was buried in the Hadar cemetary.  He is survived by his sisters, Mary and Lenore Epp.