Howard Emerson Merrill

Howard E Merrill long time resident of Baton Rouge passed to his final reward on Tuesday, February 2, 2021. Howard was born in New Hampshire and moved to DeLand Florida as an infant. He graduated from DeLand High School and Stetson University in Chemistry, married his High school sweetheart Jean and finished he education at the University of Pittsburgh with a PHD in Organic Chemistry. They moved to Baton Rouge in 1957 where he began his career at Standard Oil Research and Development Laboratories. He transferred to the Exxon Baton Rouge Chemical Plant Laboratory in 1976 supporting the Basic Chemicals Area and retired after over 29 years of service in 1986. After retirement he and Jean filled their days with travel, doing Merrill family genealogy and his other passion, bonsai. He was preceeded in death by his father Howard E Merrill, mother Edith Williamson , sisters Marion Goehring and Marjorie Stewart. He is survived by his wife of 67 years Jean McCormick and children Howard E Merrill III (Lorie), Marjorie Petesch, Susan Varnadore (James), and Linda Robinson (Kevin), grandchildren True Merrill (Natalie), June Bordas (Adelaide), Michael Merrill, Maggie Merrill, Christopher Petesch, Michael Petesch, Christian Varnadore, Jeanell Varnadore, Austin Robinson, and Kaitlyn Robinson Carpenter (Daniel) and two great grandchildren Edi May and Josie.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Hope Ministries (where he and Jean volunteered for many years) or the Baton Rouge Food Bank. No public services will be held at this time.