Merritt Spry

Floyd Merritt Spry was born December 2, 1938, in Anita, Iowa, the son of Floyd Marion and Nellie Marie (Denney) Spry. Merritt passed away February 14, 2013, at the Cass County Memorial Hospital.

He was in the graduating class of 1957 from the Anita High School. After graduation he helped harvest hay and worked construction building box culverts which ran under I-80. Merritt and Terry Scarlett were married August 2, 1959. He was employed with Demett International as a mechanic in 1960. Shortly after that he became employed with O.W. Shaffer and Sons. He worked for the Cass County Secondary Road Department for a short time prior to opening Merritt's Repair in Anita in 1970. In 1981 Merritt sold the business and opened another auto repair shop on his farm. He was employed by the Cass County Secondary Roads Department for a second time retiring after 13 years in 2000.

Merritt served on the Anita City Council, was a member of the Chamber of Commerce and was a lifetime member of the Anita Volunteer Fire Department. He was baptized and became a member of the United Congregational Church of Christ in Anita.

Merritt could fix anything mechanical and loved working with his hands. He did amazing wood working. He also enjoyed farming, making hay, caring for his horses and other animals. Merritt was an avid John Wayne and Johnny Cash fan.

His kids would tell you that "Dad loved life; whether it was watching colts being born or watching corn and beans grow. He loved and appreciated life. He loved his kids unconditionally. He loved his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He appreciated the sunshine and the warmth of a spring day."

He was preceded in death by his parents, Floyd and Nellie Spry; his sister, Love Joy Farnam; and his sister, Donna Rae Spry, who died at infancy.

Merritt is survived by his special friend, Mary Lou Smith of Anita; his children, Scott Spry and his wife, Deanna of Wiota, Jody Spry-Schuler and her husband, Steve of Anita, Kipp Spry of Anita, Clint Spry and his wife, Janet of Anita; his grandchildren, Susie Spry of West Des Moines, Sarah Denney and her husband, Jon of West Des Moines, Nicole Velgersdyk and her husband, Ryan of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Corey Spry of Anita and Carli Schuler of Anita; his great-grandchildren, Caelan Olson and Braxton Denney both of West Des Moines; a sister, Rose Watson of Anita; a sister, Nancy Darrow and her husband Bill, of Summerfield, Florida; a brother, Joe Spry and his wife, Rosa, of Yuma, Arizona; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation with family will be held on Tuesday, February 19, 2013, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. with funeral services on Wednesday, February 20, 2013, at 10:30 a.m. both at Hockenberry Funeral Home in Anita.

Burial will be at the Evergreen Cemetery in Anita with lunch to follow at the United Congregational Church of Christ in Anita.