Charles Edson Merrritt was born in 1864, during the final years of the Civil War. He moved to Mendota with his wife and eight children in 1914 from Lanark, Illinois. Although college educated, he learned the business of undertaking by working for a local firm that owned a furniture store while at the same time offering their services as undertakers. In 1938 at the age of 74 he established the Merritt Funeral Home in Mendota. Up to his death in 1955 at the age of 91 he continued to live in the funeral home and was the oldest licensed undertaker in Illinois.
Willard F. Merritt was born November 29, 1907 in Lanark, Illinois. He moved to Mendota at the age of 7 with his family. He graduated Mendota High School in 1926 and later graduated from Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois. For several years he taught math at East Aurora High School. He attended Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Chicago and upon graduation in 1939 he joined his father in the family business. He retired in 1972 when ownership was taken over by his son Robert. After living most of his life in the funeral home Willard moved to Stonecroft Retirement Village in Mendota in 2002 til his death August 5, 2005 at the age of 97. A devout Cubs fan to the end.
Robert W. Merritt is the 3rd generation of the Merritt family to enter the family business. Born in 1942 he has lived his entire life in Mendota. He graduated from Mendota High School in 1960. Attended the University of Iowa and graduated from the University of Minnesota's mortuary science program in 1966. He then joined the family business and is starting his 40th year in funeral service. He has been involved in many orginazations and served on various boards. A strong booster of Mendota High School teams and local athletic programs and a loyal Fighting Illini fan.
Brett W. Merritt is the 4th generation to represent the family business. Born in 1969 in Mendota. He graduated from Mendota High School in 1987 and was a starting forward for the first basketball team to ever reach the Sweet 16. He attended Illinois Valley Community College and graduated from Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Des Plaines, Illinois in 1989. 50 years after his grandfather Willard. Along with his father he involved in the day to day operations of the funeral home when not busy watching the Boston Celtics or Red Sox.
