Moses

Merril A. Moses, 98, of Butler, peacefully passed away at his home Sunday evening, May 25, 2025, while surrounded by the love of his family.

Born in Lyndora on Sept. 9, 1926, he was a son of the late Anthony and Mary Haddad Moses. He married Jane A. McClelland, his wife of 62 years, on July 19, 1952. She preceded him in death.

He was a member of All Saints Parish, St. Paul Roman Catholic Church.

Following his service in the U.S. Navy, Merril, taking advantage of the G.I. Bill, attended the West Penn Horological School of Watchmaking in Pittsburgh and graduated in 1948. On Jan. 5, 1949, he launched his jewelry business as a watchmaker in a small, 12-by-15-foot store in Lyndora.

With a commitment to providing customers with quality, value and personal service, he earned their trust and a strong foundation was laid. Merril’s business prospered. In 1968, he relocated Moses Jewelers to 115 W. Cunningham St. in Butler. He went on to open a second store in the new Clearview Mall in 1981, and he proudly watched his sons, Larry and Tim, expand the business to its current location on Route 228 in Seven Fields in 2008.

Merril and Jane loved to dance, attending many social activities with friends.

Sports were also an important part of Merril’s life. He played basketball at Butler High School. As a young adult, he was on several championship-winning teams in the Butler City Fast-Pitch Softball League. Beginning in 1951, he served as a WPIAL official, working football and basketball games for many years. He also served as the operator of the scoreboard clock at Butler High’s home football games for 30 years.

Over the years, Merril became an avid golfer and considered Butler Country Club his “second home.” In 1995, he even scored a hole-in-one there. Then, again in 2015, at the age of 88, he enjoyed a second hole-in-one on the same hole.

In 1966, Merril was one of the founders of the Butler Area Sports Hall of Fame, and he received the organization’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007. In 2015, he received the Butler Football Hometown Hero award. In 2017, he was honored to receive the William A. Morgan Jr. Entrepreneur of the Year award from the Butler County Chamber of Commerce.

Merril deeply loved his family and was proud of each of them. He often mentioned how blessed he was and what a wonderful life he was living. He was thankful for his caregivers, whom his family lovingly referred to as “Merril’s ladies.” He continually shared his words of wisdom, especially with his nine grandchildren and his staff at the jewelry store. In 2023, he was overjoyed to meet his new great-granddaughter, and kissed a picture of “little Lucy” almost every day. Often seeming larger than life, fond and loving memories will always remain in the hearts of his family and many who knew him.

He is survived by his children, Larry Moses and his wife, Kim, of Butler, Tom Moses and his wife, Deb, of Princeton, N.J., Tim Moses and his wife, Maryanne Puente, of Butler, Sarah Monteleone and her husband, Gregg, of Stevens, Pa., and Dr. Mary Moses and her husband, Bill Ermatinger Jr., of Naples, Fla.; grandchildren, Robert Moses, Jordan Moses, Nathan Moses and his wife, Adrienne, Cara Moses, Molly Moses, Maggie Moses, Ryan Monteleone, Nicholas Monteleone and Will Ermatinger III; and his great-granddaughter, Lucy Moses.

In addition to his parents and seven siblings, Merril was preceded in death by his wife, Jane McClelland Moses, who passed away Nov. 22, 2014; and one son, Michael D. Moses, who passed away May 18, 1985.

MOSES — Friends of Merril A. Moses, who died Sunday, May 25, 2025, will be received from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at MARTIN FUNERAL HOME, DOWNTOWN, 201 E. Cunningham St., Butler.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday at All Saints Parish, St. Paul Roman Catholic Church, 128 N. McKean St., Butler, with the Rev. Kevin C. Fazio officiating.

Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to either Butler Catholic School, 515 E. Locust St., Butler, PA 16001; or to The Golden Tornado Scholastic Foundation Inc., using “The Kids’ Weekend Backpack Program” in the memo line. Mailing address: The Golden Tornado Scholastic Foundation Inc., 110 Campus Lane, Butler, PA 16001.

For more information, please visit www.martinfh.net.

Please sign the guest book at www.butlereagle.com.