Merlin was first and foremost a farmer and for many years he and his brother Fay operated the Cross Farm in Kalkaska County. Although he left farming to pursue road construction, he was always a farmer at heart. He was a wonderful caretaker of the earth and all its creatures, great and small, and passed these beliefs on to his children and grandchildren.ÊHe remained a tiller of the soil.

In 1970, Merlin and Lucinda moved to Steuben in the Upper Peninsula and operated, with their son Terry and his wife Sally, a general store and a canoe livery on the Indian River. During this time he also worked for his son TerryÕs construction business. Later Merlin and Lucinda settled into a home they built on acreage fronting Ogontz Bay near Nahma.

Merlin was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Lucinda and his son Terry. He was also preceded in death by his brother Fay and sisters Ila, Thelma and Doris.

He is survived by daughter Susan (John) Yonker, daughter-in-law Sally Cross, daughter Sherryl (Ron) Hellenga and daughter Jackie (John Sturgis) Miller; grandchildren Todd (Jeni) Yonker, Spencer (Jill) Yonker, Wade (Lynda) Cross, Travis (Jeanne LeMire) Cross, James (Theressa) Hollis, Emberly Cross, Meagan (Erik) Luce and Joshua Miller; great-grandchildren Jenson and Tate Yonker, Wyatt and Hannah Cross, Alex, Connor, Jacob and Jarrod Hollis, Madison and Erin CrossKaplan, Lauren and Alexis Luce; and special friends Logan and Josie.Ê He is also survived by his sister Winifred (Willard) Fox; sister-in-law Gladys Cross; brother-inlaw Douglas Bateman; and many nieces and nephews. The family thanks Dr. Ethan VanTil, Paula and Ellen of Thirlby Clinic for their compassionate care; neighbors Char and Mike Wallace and Dr. Jan Messerschmidt, as well as many others, including Hospice caregivers.Ê Thanks for the kindness shown by friends he made during his daily lunch visits to Meijer over the years, and to special friend Thad Hellenga.

Arrangements were handled by Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home. Cremation has taken place and a family celebration of the lives of Merlin, Lucinda and Terry will take place this summer near Steuben.ÊMemorials may be given in memory of Merlin to the Eva Burrell Animal Shelter, 6091 W. U.S. Highway 2, Manistique, Mich., 49854; or, Munson Hospice, 1105 Sixth Street, Traverse City, Mich., 49684. ÒA good Man is gone but not forgotten.Ó