Paul V Merritt

Passed peacefully in the night on Thursday, January 29, 2026 at the age of 91. Loving husband, father, friend and uncle. He was the youngest son of Donald and Neva (Griner) Merritt born on May 5, 1934. Paul grew up in Clover Valley and attended Clover Valley High School. At age 17 he started working in Silver Bay as a blaster and then moved on to taconite harbor, when in 1955 he joined the Carpenter Local 361 and was a proud union member for 71 years.

Paul married the love of his life, Beverly (Carlisle) Merritt and together they raised two boys, Roy and Jeff over their 69 years of marriage.

Paul was drafted in 1956 and serviced in the 82ndAirborn 101st Division in Germany. After his return he purchased land in the woodland area and built his house and raised his family. He was an avid outdoorsman and raised his boys to hunt and fish. Paul will be remembered as a great and loving husband and father.

He is survived by his wife, Beverly; sons, Roy (Doreen) and Jeff; and many wonderful nieces and nephews.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11am on Saturday, February 7, 2026 at Hope United Methodist Church, 301 W St Marie St, Duluth with a Visitation beginning at 10am. Please bring memories to share of Paul or bring a written memory to be read at the Memorial Service. Memorials preferred to Animal Allies of Duluth or Hope United Methodist Church.

Here is a brief history of Paul’s family.

Paul’s family roots on the North Shore go back to 1855 when his great grandfather, Lewis Howell Merritt arrived at the "Head of the Lakes" and made a land claim on the Minnesota side of the bay, adjacent to claims by Rev. Edmund Ely and Henry Wheeler. The Merritts started calling the area Oneota, from an Ojibwe legend meaning “the rock from which the people sprang.” Lewis and his wife Hephzibah (Jewett) Merritt had ten children; and five of their sons and two nephews became known as the "Seven Iron Men" for their discovery of the Mesabi Iron Range. Paul's paternal great grandparents were Jerome and Emily (Walker) Merritt. Jerome was the first public school teacher at Oneota and the former Merritt Elementary School in West Duluth was named in his honor. Paul was proud of his Minnesota heritage and he was the last surviving great grandson of Jerome Merritt.