Merrill Graddy

RIPLEY – Merrill Brooks Graddy, 88, passed away Sunday, Jan. 19, 2014, at his home in Ripley. He was born Sept. 12, 1925, to Henry Arthur and Lora Belle Tucker Graddy. He graduated from Ecru High School and received a bachelor's degree from Mississippi State University. He worked 37 years with Armour Foods. He worked and lived most of those years in Springfield, Ky. He attended the Church of Christ in Lebanon, Ky., where he served as a deacon, song leader and Bible school teacher. He currently attended Beech Hill Church of Christ, where he served as a song leader. He loved traveling and camping and belonged to a Good Sam Camping group. He was a Navy veteran of World War II. He served three years on the USS Fletcher and was a fire controller. He served in five major battles in the South Pacific.
Services will be at 2 p.m. today, Jan. 21, at Ripley Funeral Home Chapel with Minister King McCarver and Minister James Horton officiating. Burial will be in Tippah Memorial Garden.
He is survived by his wife, Rachel Carter Graddy of Ripley; one daughter, Connie Terry (Glenn) of Ripley; two sons, Alan Graddy (Barbara) and Maurice Graddy (Joyce); eight grandchildren, Allison Hall (Nathan) of Corinth, Rae Kizer (Mac) of Tupelo, Leah Graves (Tyler) of Ripley, Lynsey Terry of Hattisburg, Mac Terry (Windy), Benjamin Graddy, Joseph Graddy and Graydon Graddy, all of Ripley; and eight great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and two brothers, Jimmy and Truit Graddy.
Pallbearers will be Benjamin, Joseph and Graydon Graddy, Mac Terry, Nathan Hall and MacKenzie Kizer. Honorary pallbearers will be elders and deacons of Beech Hill Church of Christ, Clay Crawford, Tony Farese and Jimmy Fields.
To view obituaries online and sign the guestbook, visit www.ripleyfuneralhome.com.