Obituary of Merle Ferry

Merle Eugene Ferry Sr., 86, of Cambridge passed away on Friday, September 7, 2007 at his home. He was born February 11, 1921 in Colfax, Wisconsin to Roy and Lottie Mae (Phillips) Ferry. He grew up on a farm in Wisconsin until the age of 14 when the family moved to Minneapolis. Merle graduated from high school on Minneapolis in 1940 and at age 17 joined the United States Navy, serving over 40 years in the Navy and Navy Reserves, and was honorably discharged. In 1944 he was united in marriage to Doris Pollock. They made their home in North Dakota, which was where their first child Merle Jr. was born. They would later move to Minneapolis where their next three children Mike, Mark and Scott were born. The family then moved to Pennsylvania where their two daughters Diane and Patricia were born. Merle left the military before moving back to Minnesota and would go on to join the Naval Reserves. He also began working at PACO. Merle retired from the military in 1981 and later retired from PACO. After retirement he lived in Minneapolis and more recently west of Cambridge. Merle loved dancing and was a member of Parents without Partners dance club. He enjoyed fishing; he was a "Jack-of-all-trades", fixing things (even if they were not broken). He was a loving father and grandfather, was very good to his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and always had candy for the grandkids. He was preceded in death by his parents, former wife Doris, grandsons Jasen Ferry and Michael Ferry Jr., siblings Howard, Beulah, June, Florence and an infant sister. Merle is survived by his children Merle Ferry Jr. and wife Cathy of Chalfont, PA, Michael and wife Patty Ferry of North Wales, PA, Mark Ferry of Suffern, NY, Scott and wife Melinda Ferry of Tamarack, MN, Diane Williams of Cambridge, Patricia and husband David Johnson of Meadowlands, MN, 17 grandchildren Merle Ferry III, Drew Ferry, Annamae Ferry, Kathryn Ferry, Mark Ferry Jr., Brian Ferry, Christopher Ferry, Sarah Ferry, Justin Ferry, Heather Bradford, Lonnie Bradford, Devon Williams, David Williams, Joshua Ferry, Jonathan Ferry, James Ferry and Jesse Ferry, 3 step-grandchildren Shana Allen, Keith Johnson, and Shane Johnson, six great grandchildren, twin sister Marie Sutton of California, as well as many nieces, nephews other relatives and friends.