Merrell Glynn Crumley was born April 17, 1940, and suddenly the world was a brighter place! His parents, B.T. and Mildred Faye (Munday) Crumley received their second gift from God, who would become the proud brother of his older sibling, J. T., and his younger sister, Elsie Ruth.
On April 18, 1964, he made the second most important decision of his life and married his life partner and sweetheart of nearly 61 years, Julia Ann (Ballard) Crumley. Together, they raised three sons – Cliff, Edward, and Johnny. They eventually gained daughters-in-love – Jane, who married Cliff, and Susan, who married Johnny – and became grandparents (or “Bacas” as they are affectionately called) to nine grandchildren and six great grandchildren at the time of his passing.
If you asked him about his childhood and memories growing up, Merrell proudly talked about his Texas roots and the various places his family lived throughout the years. After graduating high school, when it was time to chart his own path, he spent two years at Tarleton State College before serving his country for almost five years in the Air Force. After a brief time working at a bank, he chose to continue serving his country by working for the Department of Defense as a computer specialist for many years.
Merrell loved God, his family, and anyone who was fortunate to call him friend. He and his family were faithful church attenders, and he enjoyed serving in church as well. He had opportunities to act as a deacon and on a council in several churches they called “home” throughout the years.
Merrell’s faith wasn’t just tradition; it was his life. It was his habit to spend time reading his Bible and praying for anyone and anything on his heart and mind. In his later years, when he reached the point that he couldn’t do much physically, he was often found with God’s Word on his lap and his heart engaged in prayer.
A man of few words, his faith was evident to all who knew him in his sweet, kind smile and the gleam in his eye when he greeted them. Those who knew him well appreciated his words of wisdom and exhortation. As young fathers, his sons recall him saying many times, “Take care of those young uns!” When discussing plans or making decisions, he would exclaim, “We’ll see what takes place!” knowing that, according to Scripture, “a man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps” (Proverbs 16:9 NKJV).
On a lighter note, he consistently inquired at restaurants and places he shopped, “Do you have a veteran’s discount?” His wife, Julia, heard it so much that she once declared she would “Get you a T-shirt that says ‘Do you have a veteran’s discount?’” to wear every time they went out. He was a prudent man, and it showed in his loving description of his dear wife shortly before he passed away. When a nurse who was attending to his care commented one day about his lovely wife, who was faithfully by his side, his response was, “She’s convenient!” (Family members will likely recall this quote for many years to come. J)
Merrell was steady in good times and bad. When times were good, he chose to thank God for the many blessings He poured out in his life and the lives of those he cared about. When the uncertainties and pain of hardships came his way, his first response was prayer and a promise from God’s Word. In those times, he often expressed his trust in God’s love, goodness, faithfulness, mercy and grace as he prayed “Jesus, You are the answer,” or “God, we don’t know what tomorrow holds, but we know Who holds tomorrow,” or simply “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus…”
This was Julia’s “Honeypooch,” our Daddy, and our Bacadaddy! His example had a powerful impact on people around him, and his legacy holds great eternal value.
Merrell is preceded in death by his parents, his brother, and his daughter-in-love, Jane Crumley, who was married to Cliff for almost 35 years.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Binkley-Ross Funeral Home. Visitation will be held on Friday, January 31, 2025, from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm at Abundant Life Assembly of God Church located at 1409 E. DeYoung Street, Marion, Illinois. Memorial services will begin at 1:00 pm with Pastor Jimmy Russell officiating. Please visit www.binkleyross.com to leave online condolences to the family.
Friday, January 31, 2025
11:00am - 1:00 pm (Central time)
Abundant Life Assembly of God
Friday, January 31, 2025
1:00 - 2:00 pm (Central time)
Abundant Life Assembly of God
Visits: 259
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors