John A. Merrell, 80, of 56 Coldbrook Drive, Lafayette, died at 7 a.m. Feb. 21, 2001, at his winter residence in Bokeelia, Fla.  He had been ill for a year.

     Born March 7, 1920, in Delphi, he was a 1938 Delphi High School graduate and had been a Lafayette resident 35 years.  In 1965, he began Town and Country Real Estate in Lafayette.  He also had developed Sheffield Acres.
     In April 1967, he married Helen Martin in Lafayette, and she survives.
     He was a Navy veteran of World War II.
     Mr. Merrell formerly served as chairman of the Carroll County Democratic Party, was Democratic second district chairman, and served on the State Democratic Committee for 10 years.  He was instrumental in bringing then presidential candidate, John F. Kennedy, to Lafayette during the 1960 campaign.
     Mr. Merrell was a member of Congress Street United Methodist Church, Lafayette Barbershop Quartet (Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing) and For Myers (Fla) Barber Shop Quartet for eight years.
     He enjoyed gardening and fishing.
     Also surviving are three sons, Thomas L. Merrell of Clearwater, Fla., William M. Merrell of Fishers, and Charles A. Merrell of Lafayette; a daughter, Janet Riley of Sarasota, Fla.; a stepson, Terry L. Martin of Lafayette; a stepdaughter, Rita K. Fisher of Lafayette; two brothers, Larry J. Merrell and Robert Merrell, both of Lafayette; a sister, Rosemary DenUyl of Tennessee; 19 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by one son, one sister, one stepsister, and four stepbrothers.
     Services were Tuesday in Lafayette with burial in Masonic Cemetery, Delphi.  Memorials may be made to the Heart Association.
 
Obituary notice taken from the Carroll County Comet, Wednesday, August 29, 2001