Dossie Elmer "Doss" Merrow Obituary (1926 - 2013)

Dossie Elmer Merrow - July 15, 1926-November 8, 2013 Dossie, better known as Doss, 87 peacefully entered the pearly gates in his beloved wife Betty's arms. Doss and Betty were married for 63 years. Doss joined the Army Air Corp in 1945. He worked at General Motors for six years. He started at Perfect Cleaners in Flint until he opened his own business, Doss's Cleaners. Once he sold the cleaners he went to work for the Independent Order of Foresters and worked his way up to become the District Manager in the Lansing area. He attended Purdue University. He was President of the Michigan Fraternal Congress. He was instrumental in project S.O.S. (Soap for Vietnam) and Toys for Tots. His love of building lead him to work as the Aurelius Township Building Inspector and with his brother at B.V. Merrow Construction Company building many churches throughout the state of Michigan. Doss retired from the Homestead Air Force Base in Homestead, Florida in June 1992 returning back to his hometown of Eaton Rapids. He and Betty returned to Homestead to help their friends and victims of Hurricane Andrew a month later. Doss will always be remembered as a kind, gentle, loving and distinguished man of integrity who had no enemies. He loved Tiger baseball and the MSU Spartans. He taught the whole family to bowl and has numerous trophies for his accomplishments. Everyone who came in contact with Doss was blessed with his beautiful smile and sense of humor, he always kept us laughing. Family was everything to Doss. He had many "adopted" children and grandchildren throughout the United States, Brazil, Spain and Germany. The nurses at Dialysis were his extended family for the past two and half years who he loved dearly. Doss's kind spirit will live on through his wife Betty, daughters, Diane (Dennis) and Sharron (Doug); his six grandchildren Michael (Kristal), Tasha (Brendan), Matthew, Christina (Josh), Michelle (Brian) and Marie (Justin), his five great-grandchildren Sabrina, Katelin, Olivia, Alisyn and Oliver, Kyle and Briana. Doss is also survived by his sister Goldie and brothers Bob (Gerri), Bernie (Marilyn) and many nieces and nephews; sister-in-law, Maxine Thompson and her family Linda, Sean and Paul Thompson; brother-in-law, Bill McCuan. Until we meet again, we love you more! Mass of the Christian Burial will be on Wednesday, November 13, 2013 at 11:00 AM from St. James Catholic Church 1010 S. Lansing Rd., Mason with Fr. Thomas Held as celebrant. Visitation will be Tuesday, November 12, 2013 from 1-8pm at the Skinner Funeral Home in Eaton Rapids. Burial will follow mass with full military honors at the Plains Cemetery in rural Eaton Rapids. For those desiring memorial contributions may be made to either DaVita Dialysis Center at 404 S. Crapo St Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858 or the Fresenius Medical Care 111 Lansing St. # 120 Charlotte, MI. 48813 in memory of Dossie E. Merrow. For online condolences please visit www.SkinnerFuneralHome.com Memorials: DaVita Dialysis Center or Fresenius Medical Care