Gerald S. Merchant

Gerald Selah Merchant, 79 years old, of Preston, NY, passed away at home on Sunday, July 2nd, 2023. He was the son of the late Selah and Mina Waite Merchant. Gerald grew up in DeRuyter, NY, with his family. He was predeceased by his parents, a brother James Merchant Sr, his first wife, Wanda Chase Merchant of 39 years, his son Gerald (Sam) Merchant, Jr., and a daughter-in-law, Brenda Breed. He leaves behind his current loving wife, Dorothy Porter Merchant of 15 years, his children, Douglas Breed and Ikie Jean (Phillip) Mudge, of McDonough, NY, and Daughters Cindy Merchant of Norwich, NY, and Doty (Paul) Jackson of Oxford, NY, Brent Barry, of Norwich, NY, Barbara Sabines, Oxford, NY, Debbie (Norm) Wiggins, of Norwich, NY, Brian (Cris) Barry, of Shawnee, OK, Travis Armstrong, of Oxford, NY, sisters Pat Marris, of Erieville, NY, Jane Parker of Pitcher, NY, and Peggy Johnson of Cincinnatus, NY and Margie Merchant, of North Carolina, 22 grandchildren, and 42 great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews and extended family.

Gerald was born in Cazenovia, NY, on 10/26/1943. He was one of 5 children. He worked as a farmer all his life up until his retirement in 2020. For the last 47 years of his farming career, he worked for the Balsam View Dairy farm in McDonough, NY. This farm is owned by the Newton family, whom Gerald considered an extended family. Gerald loved his family dearly, and spending time with all of them was very special to him. The most special part of Gerald’s family is that it was very blended. He became a father to two of his children when they were very little and father to his wife Dorothy’s children later in life. He and his wife Dorothy helped raise some of his great-grandchildren. Gerald had the spiritual gift to love unconditionally. He would not have called his blended family anything different than family, and he loved them all as his own because that’s exactly what they were, his family. Gerald had a wonderful, witty sense of humor and enjoyed teasing his friends and family. Some of his favorite hobbies were hunting in his earlier years, farming, mowing lawn, napping under the shade tree in the backyard, helping others, and enjoying life with his children and all their families and friends.

Gerald attended the East Pharsalia Baptist Church and loved his church family. Although he has left this world prematurely, we take comfort in knowing that he is resting in the arms of his Heavenly Father.

Services will be on July 15th, 2023, at the East Pharsalia Baptist Church. Calling hours are from 10-11 am, with services beginning immediately after. In lieu of flowers, please send all donations to the East Pharsalia Baptist Church at 841 Rt 10, East Pharsalia, NY 13758