Bernard Lue "Barney" Merrell

Bernard "Barney" Lue Merrell, 60, of Norman, passed away in Houston, Texas, on April 27, 2009, with his wife by his side after a 2 year battle with larynx cancer caused by Agent Orange. He was born January 7, 1949, in Norman, Oklahoma, to Lue and Aline Merrell.Barney was devoted to his wife, children, and grandchildren. He especially enjoyed traveling with his wife and family. One of his favorite activities was snow-skiing in Colorado. He and his son shared of a love of attending OU sporting events together. He was the beloved coach of his daughter's softball teams for several years and served on the board for Camp Fire Girls. He also enjoyed fishing, building, and fixing anything with his hands. Barney had a tremendous love for his family and friends and was always a giving person to anyone he befriended, expecting nothing in return.Barney's first language growing up was French, which he learned from his mother and grandmother, Leontine Druard, who moved to Norman from Paris, France. Barney attended school in Norman and graduated from Norman High in 1967. He then attended the University of Oklahoma to study engineering before being drafted in the Army. While he attended OU, Barney started welding for the University. On October 28, 1969, Barney married his first and only love, Shirley White, of Norman. Barney served in Vietnam from 1969 to 1970. While in Vietnam he received the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, 2 Bronze Stars, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Air Medal, 2 Sharpshooter Medals, a Purple Heart, and an Army Commendation Medal. After returning from Vietnam, Barney was a welder for Morrison's Welding. In August of 1971, Barney and his wife gave birth to their first child, Gregory Merrell. In February of 1974, they had their second child, Aimee Merrell. In 1975, he formed Merrell's Welding with his brother, Dominique Merrell. In 1995, he started his second business, Destinations Unlimited Travel, Inc., with his wife.Barney is survived by his loving wife of 39 years, Shirley; two children, Gregory Merrell, and his wife, Jessica, of Moore; daughter, Aimee Salalati, and husband, Vahid, of Norman; one grandson, Ari Salalati; two granddaughters, Samira Salalati and Ryleigh Merrell. Barney is also survived by his mother, Aline Merrell, of Norman; one brother, Dominique Merrell of Norman and his children, Kenny, Missy, and Nikki; and one sister, Josette Pennell, and husband, John, of Oklahoma City and their children, Laura and Alan.Barney was very close to his sister-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces and nephews, Nancy Harrington and husband, Van, of Norman, and their children, Nikki, Zack, and Austin; Gregory White and wife, Pat, and their son, Darin; Rusty White and wife, Karen, of Moore, their children, Benny, Kristen, and Cody; nieces, Tammy and Emily, and nephew, Joey White, children of his late brother-in-law, Virgil White.Barney was preceded in death by his father, Lue Merrell; grandparents, Leontine and Lucien Druard, and Laura and Logan Merrell.Services will be held at 2:00 pm, Friday, May 1, 2009, at Havenbrook Funeral Home Chapel in Norman. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery in Norman. The family will receive friends Thursday evening at Havenbrook from 7 to 9 pm. Pallbearers are Zack Harrington, Austin Harrington, Benny White, Cody White, Joey White, Kenny Merrell, and Craig Grotts. Honorary Pallbearers are Vahid Salalati, Greg White, Rusty White, Van Harrington, Nikki Harrington, and Bill Hamil.Send condolences online at http://www.havenbrookfuneralhome.com/Obituaries.htm.Submitted by family