Merle Nicholas Shearer Jr.
Merle Nicholas Shearer Jr., 77, of Buffalo Township died Thursday of pancreatic cancer.
He was born March 20, 1941, in Butler.
A 1959 graduate of Butler High School, Merle earned a degree in electrical engineering from the University of Cincinnati in Ohio.
He worked for McGraw Construction in Middletown, Ohio, the U.S. Postal Service in Wexford, Allegheny Ludlum Steel in Brackenridge, and AK Steel Corp. in Butler.
Mr. Shearer was an active member of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Freeport, where he was a lector and served on the church council.
He was a 50-year member of Masonic Lodge 90 of Middleton, Ohio, and the Syria Shriners of Pittsburgh. He was especially proud of earning the rank of Eagle Scout at age 13.
Merle enjoyed exploring new places and being the first down the ski slope. Collecting G gauge trains was his passion. His train displays entertained many at his home and at Trinity Church.
He built a log cabin in the Laurel Highlands. He loved sharing it with family and friends.
His children and grandchildren were always a priority. Whenever possible, Merle was at every game and event in which they participated. He also considered himself fortunate to have made countless memories with many reading these words.
Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Eileen D. Bachman Shearer; two children, Beth D. (James) Clark of Harrod, Ohio, and Aaron N. Shearer of Cabot; his three grandchildren, Dakota James, Kyra Delight and Abbey Rose, who were his pride and joy; two brothers, Jacob M. (Diane Greenert) Shearer of North Chesterfield, Va., and Glenn R. (Marianne Fisher) of Butler; his sisters-in-law, Joan Gold Bachman of Butler and Linda Miller Bachman of Inglis, Fla.; a brother-in-law, Glenn Cratty of Butler; and a number of nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Merle N. and Marie R. Mangold Shearer of Butler.
SHEARER — Per his request, a private family visitation for Merle Nicholas Shearer Jr., who died Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018, was held in Redmond Funeral Home in Freeport.Visitation will begin at 2 p.m. and a memorial service will follow at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018, at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 323 Fifth St., Freeport.The memorial service will follow in the church with Dr. Brent Allen, the Rev. James Higgins and the Rev. James Arter presiding.A dinner in the church social room will follow for those attending.In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Trinity Lutheran Church, 323 Fifth St., Freeport, PA 16229.To send a condolence, visit www.redmondfuneralhomeinc.com.
