Robert Donald Merris

Robert (Bob) Donald Merris, 96, died April 14, 2025, in Minneapolis, MN. Bob was born on September 30, 1928, in Bluffs, IL, son of Donald and Helen Frohwitter Merris. He was married to the late Mary Elizabeth Bentley on February 20, 1950, in Jacksonville. Five children survive: Michael R. Merris of Yountville, CA, Kathleen D. McNeely (Joel) of Jacksonville, IL, Gregory A. Merris (Cindy) of San Diego, CA, Mary H. Hogan (Patrick) of Apple Valley, MN, and Eric E. Merris (Susan) of Pea Ridge, AR. Also surviving are five grandchildren: Jonah Merris of Emeryville, CA, Aiden Merris of Seattle, WA, Jennifer Carr (Jeff) of Boise, ID, Aaron Merris of San Diego, CA, and Abigail Hogan of Apple Valley, MN, and two great-grandchildren: Sophia Carr and Brayden Carr of Boise, ID. Bob had two brothers and two sisters: William Merris (Marilyn) of Jacksonville, IL (deceased), Harold Merris (Judy) of Mount Carmel, IL, Dorothy Smith (Steven) of Holderness, NH (deceased), and Donna Merris (Robyn Huffman) of Sandwich, NH. Bob began a career in newspapers as a "printer's devil" for his hometown Bluffs Times. He worked as sports editor of the Jacksonville Journal-Courier during his college years. He became editor of the Decatur newspapers in the 1950s and 1960s before moving his family to New York. There, he was editor of three different newspapers for the Gannett Company before returning to Illinois. In the 1980s and 1990s Bob settled into what he called the "most enjoyable and productive years of my life," as Vice President for Development, Alumni Relations, Public Relations and Admissions under Illinois College's then-president, Dr. Donald Mundinger. He taught communications courses as well. After his retirement, Bob wrote six books he called "light histories." The books covered the pioneer days of Illinois College, Bluffs, the Wabash Railroad, and the first Scott County villages of Exeter and Naples, among others. Bob was a U.S. Navy veteran, serving as a radio and radar operator with Experimental Squadron 2 on Chincoteague Island, NC. He was a past commander of the Bluffs American Legion post. Private interment services will be held at Green Cemetery in Bluffs, Illinois. The family suggests donations in lieu of flowers be made to honor Bob and his love of Illinois history, to the Illinois State Historical Society https://historyillinois.org/support-us/ or to a charity of choice.

Robert Donald Merris

September 30, 1928 - April 14, 2025