Harrison Shelby Merritt

Harrison Shelby Merritt, 82, passed away Friday, February 28, 2025. He was born in Charleston, SC, to the late Henrietta Rutledge Merritt and Franklin Clement Merritt. He was a graduate of the University of South Carolina and served in the United States Marine Corps where he was awarded the National Defense Service, Vietnam Service and Vietnam Campaign Medals. He was a Loan Officer for several banks and retired from the Kentucky Dept of Financial Institutions in 2007. He loved the beach, and fishing. Harrison was known as “Doowah” by family and friends because of his love for beach music. He was a fan of both Kentucky and USC Football and Basketball teams. He is survived by his wife, Linda Lewis Merritt; sons, Thomas Rutledge Merritt (Jessica), and Shelby Nelson (Marion Stephens); daughter, Heywood Nelson; grandchildren, Gabriel Alexander and Alice Shelby Merritt and Addison and Drayton Nelson. Memorials may be made to the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, 1775 Semper Fidelis Way, Triangle, VA 22172 https://www.marineheritage.org/. Family will receive friends 12:00 – 1:00 PM Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Stoudenmire-Dowling Funeral Home. Funeral Service will follow at 1:00 PM in the chapel. Burial will follow at Florence National Cemetery with military honors.