Obituary of Paul F. Merriman

Paul Francis Merriman of Syracuse died peacefully on July 27, 2016 in Lafayette, NY at the home of his beloved caregiver, Paula Skvarch, near the cornfields and countryside that he loved so much. Paul was 100 years young, never met a stranger and was indisputably a member of the Greatest Generation. He was born on the family farm in Otisco, NY to Frank and Agnes (Flanagan) Merriman on December 5, 1915. As a child, he traveled to a one-room schoolhouse on horseback and worked on the farm. Paul graduated from Tully High School in 1932. He and his siblings, also known as the "Fab Five," attended many Tully reunions over the years. From January of 1941 until October of 1945, Paul served in the US Army during WWII with the 736th Field Artillery Battalion. Paul's service took him to Hawaii just two months after the attack on Pearl Harbor where ships were still ablaze. He arrived at Utah Beach in August of 1944. Paul moved across Europe with General Patton's Army and received a commendation for his heavy artillery support during The Battle of the Bulge. After the war he worked in the food service industry as a salesman and retired from Kellogg Company in 1979. In his later years, Paul took up golf and even scored a hole-in-one at the Thousand Island's Club Course. He enjoyed summers on the St. Lawrence River and winters in West Palm Beach, FL In the summer of 1944, he met the love of his life, Mary Ellen Aungier at an auction (her father was the auctioneer). He kidded for the rest of his days that she was the best bargain he ever got! They were wed in 1946 and were happily married for 54 years before her passing in 2000. Paul was predeceased by his beloved wife, Mary Ellen (Aungier); daughter, Kay Ellen Capo ; and two brothers, Gerald and Vincent. He is survived by his three children, Paul (Cheryl) of New Bern, NC; James (Beth) of Sammamish, WA; Julie (Tracy) Young of Charlotte, NC, son-in-law Jim Capo of NYC; his two sisters, Arlene (Swete) of Syracuse, NY and Lucy (Swanson) of Forest Hills, NY.; 10 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Calling hours will be from 5 to 8pm Tuesday, August 2, 2016 at Ryan Funeral Home, 44 E. Main Street, Marcellus. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10am Wednesday, August 3rd in St. Patrick's Church, Otisco. The Rite of Committal and burial will follow, with Military Honors, at St. Patrick's Cemetery, Otisco. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Patrick's Cemetery, c/o Shawn Henderson, 1957 State Route 80, Tully, NY 13159 or Honor Flight Syracuse, Inc., P.O. Box 591, Syracuse, NY 13209.