4/19/1932 - 10/7/2021
Merritt O. Bye, age 89, a resident of Portland, passed away on
Thursday, October 7, 2021 at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne.
Merritt was born on April 19, 1932, in Portland, the son of Cecil and Iris E
(Labig) Bye. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy serving during the Korean
Conflict. He retired from Teledyne Portland Forge in 1995 after 30 years of
service. Merritt was a member of New Covenant Fellowship Church. Merritt
married Mary Lu Bailey on October 18, 1953 and she passed away on May 19,
2016. He later married Dorothy (Reynolds) Watkins on June 9, 2019.
Survivors include:
His wife and sweetheart: Dorothy Bye – Portland
1 son: Rodney Bye (wife Kim) – Portland
2 daughters: Kim Williams
(husband Dan) – Celina, Ohio
Stacy Newton – Portland
2
step-daughters: Barbara Nichols (husband Chris) – Coushatta, Louisiana
Sharon Watkins Crockett (husband Kraig) – Celina, Ohio
2 sisters:
Lois June Woodard – Albany
Marilyn Sue Cummings – Portland
Daughter-in-law: Patty Bye - Portland, Indiana
13 grandchildren, 18
great grandchildren, 3 great-great grandchildren, 2 step-grandchildren and 4
step-great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary
Lu Bye, a son; Terry Bye, his sisters; Judy Smitley, Sharon Brimhall,
Patricia Peacock, 2 brothers; Wendel and Sheldon Bye.
Visitation will
be held on Tuesday, October 12, 2021 from 5-8 p.m. at New Covenant
Fellowship Church, 1238 W. 450 S., Portland, IN 47371. Services to celebrate
Merritt’s life will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, October 13, 2021 at New
Covenant Fellowship Church. Pastor Chuck Myers and Chad Young will officiate
the service. Burial will follow at Gravel Hill Cemetery, west of Bryant.
American Legion Post #211 of Portland will conduct military graveside rites.
Memorials may be directed towards New Covenant Fellowship Church.
Williamson/Spencer Funeral Home ; October 9, 2021
Contributed by Jim Cox
Buried in Gravel Hill Cemetery