Merritt McCrea

McCrea, Merritt H. ALBANY Merritt H. McCrea, 83, of Albany, passed away Saturday, August 2, 2008 at the Ellis Hospital in Schenectady. He was born August 19, 1924, the son of the late George Hamilton McCrea and Mabel Arvilla (Gibbs) McCrea. He married Eleanor Peters on September 3, 1950 in Washington, D.C. He was a Disabled American Veteran of World War II, serving as a combat infantryman with the 41st Infantry of the U.S. Army, earning a battle star. He graduated from Albany Business College. Merritt is predeceased by one brother, Edward W. McCrea. Survivors include his wife, Eleanor McCrea of Albany; two brothers, George Harwood McCrea of Baltimore, Md. and David McCrea and his wife Marion of Mooers Forks, N.Y.; one brother-in-law, Russell Peters of Loudonville, N.Y.; nephews and nieces, Lon McCrea of Baltimore, Md., Colleen Hall and her husband Danny of Chapel Hill, N.C., Michael McCrea and his wife Diane of Freeland, Md., Jim McCrea of Point au Fer, Joel McCrea and his wife Barb of Baltimore, Md., Peggy Hauer and her husband Kendall of Hamilton, Ohio, Steve McCrea and his wife Christine of Mooers Forks, Danny McCrea and his wife Kathleen of Mechanicville, Russell Peters Jr. of Waldport, Ore., and Michael Peters of Hermosa Beach, Calif. He is also survived by several cousins, grandnieces and nephews, and dear friends, Carl and Margaret Schrader of Little Falls, N.Y. Merritt's family would like to extend a very special thank you to Dr. Royal Gay for his compassion. Calling hours will be Thursday, August 7, 2008 from 9:00-11:00 a.m. at the Clark Funeral Home in Champlain, N.Y. A funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. in the funeral home chapel. In lieu of flowers, donations in Merritt's memory may be made to the Champlain Memorial Library, 148 Elm Street, Champlain, NY 12919.