Stephen Merriman

Stephen Merriman, son of Dorothy Willard Schaffer and Albert Leon Merriman, was born in Anna, Ill., on March 25, 1958, and died at Missouri Southern Healthcare in Dexter on Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2008, at the age of 50.

Mr. Merriman had lived in Anna, Ill., before moving to Dexter in 1988. he had been a construction worker, a member of Laborers Local 1104, and he was of the Baptist faith.

On Feb. 8, 2003, he was married to Ronda Orton in Dexter.

Surviving are his wife, Ronda Merriman of Dexter; mother, Dorothy Schaffer of Anna, Ill.; one daughter, Natalie Clark of Neosho; one step-daughter, Heather Null of Cape Girardeau; three sisters, Carolyn Harvell and Judy Johnson, both of Jonesboro, Ill., and Betty Bellamy of Vienna, Ill.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2008, at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Chapel in Dexter with Rev. Kenneth Biggs of Dexter officiating.

Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Dexter is in charge of arrangements.