Obituary of Merlin Leach

Merlin Leach was born in Speedwell, Tennessee on January 13, 1932. He was one of eight children from the union of the late Warren and Bessie (Guy) Leach. He attended school in Speedwell and enlisted in the United States Army serving his country honorably from May 1951 until April 1953 stationed in Japan. Merlin married the love of his life the former Ruby Lester on April 9, 1955 at the home of the Reverend James Hosch. For more than thirty years, Merlin, supported his family with employment at Ford Motor Company. He retired from the Monroe Plant as a Hi-Lo driver in early 1980’s. Merlin was a talented and highly skilled woodworker with amazing precision and craftsmanship. His innovation and intelligence could be awe inspiring and his creations often contained moving parts like pens, wooden banks, wagons, and fine, intricately detailed instruments such as guitars and banjos. He even whittled wood making alligators and turtles. When Merlin wasn’t working with wood he was spending time with his children and grandchildren teaching them how to fish, and valuable life lessons about being a selfless person and putting others first. He nursed numerous birds and turtles back to health teaching and instilling that same care in those around him. Merlin Leach, age 84 of Monroe passed away at home on Sunday, December 4, 2016 under the care of Promedica Monroe Hospice. In addition to his parents his passing was preceded by a son-in-law: Jeffrey Hall; five brothers: Walter, Junior, Charlie, Roy, Virgil, and twin sisters at birth. To cherish his memory he leaves a beloved wife of sixty-one years: Ruby of Monroe; two daughters: Pamela Hall of Newport and Patricia (Rick) Newman of Angola, Indiana; four grandchildren: Angel (Jawad) Jawad, Kristy (Brian) Grew, Buddy Olson, and Kira Murray; four great grandchildren: Brianna Grew, Miranda Gonyon, Maryam and Yunis Jawad. Friends may gather from 2:00-8:00pm on Wednesday, December 7, 2016 at Merkle Funeral Service, 2442 North Monroe (734) 384-5185. He will lie in state from 12:00pm until a Celebration of His Life at 1:00pm on Thursday, December 8, 2016 at Gracepointe United Pentecostal Church, 2535 North Monroe. Procession will follow to Roselawn where graveside services will be under the auspices of Monroe Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1138. Memorials for those who desire are suggested to the wishes of the family. Online guests may leave words of inspiration and comfort by visiting www.merklefs.com .