Celebrating the life of
MacAllister Merritt
April 11, 1927 - August 14, 2012
MacAllister Merritt
SAVANNAH - MacAllister Merritt, born April 11, 1927, passed away on August 14, 2012 at his home.
After graduation from Boys High in Atlanta, instead of accepting an invitation from Wally Buts to play football at UGA, Mac joined the Navy where he served in the V5 Naval Aviation Program for two years. Upon leaving the Navy he enrolled in Duke University and earned a B.S. degree in 1947. He accepted a public relations job with General Motors and eventually had his own dealership, Merritt Chevrolet in Geneva, N.Y. In 1968 Mac moved to Winter Park where he earned a Masters degree in education from Rollins College while also teaching at Winter Park High school and the college. In 1970 he and his family moved to Tuscaloosa where he obtained a PhD in psychology and counseling. He later worked in Waycross, GA at a community center specializing in children with learning problems. In 1974 he and his family settled in Savannah to run a center for children with learning disabilities which later led to becoming a counselor for Chatham County Schools.
Mac was an avid mountain hiker and a member of the Savannah Yacht Club where he played tennis for many years. He is survived by his wife of 42 years Ann Vidar, sons Bobby Beth, Scott Stephanie, Randy, Buzz, 7 grandchildren, Allie, Caroline, Sarah, Parker, Will, Adam & Colin.
A Memorial Service to celebrate Mac's life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, August 17, 2012, at Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors, Islands Chapel.
The family requests any memorial gifts go to Hospice Savannah, Inc., P.O. Box 13190, Savannah, GA 31416 or any charity of your choice.
Please sign our on-line guest book at www.foxandweeks.com
Ann, I'm so sorry that you have lost your dear Mac. My fondest thoughts are with you. Pat
- Pat Ryan, Savannah, GA
Ann and family, I am so sorry to hear about Mac's death. I was so shocked when you told me at the YMCA on Monday. I would have liked to have come and paid my respects to you and meet your family, but missed seeing it in the paper. Mac was such a sweet, gentle man and I really enjoyed getting to know him over the last few years at the Y. He was such a joy to have in my Senior Class and he will be missed. He gave his all everytime he came to the class and I loved chatting with him before and after class. He was indeed a wonderful gentleman. I will miss him.....My prayers are with you. Gail
- Gail Ewaldsen, Savannah, GA
Dear Ann: We are thinking of you in your time of loss. We know that Mac will be greatly missed. You will be in our prayers in the coming days.
- David & Linda Vidar, Morristown, TN
My family and I are praying for you all. I know your dad is proud of all you have accomplished. Hang in there.
- Ryan Jenkins, Cumming, GA
What a privilege it was to know and work with Mac! Ann, Our prayers are with you and your family. Elaine
- Elaine and Kenny Williams, Baxley, GA
Our thoughts and prayers have been with you this week. Ann, you know how we loved Mac. We will miss him so much. Will be with you as soon as we return home. Love to Bobby and Scot and their families, too. Steve and Emily
- Emily Eady, Savannah, GA
Bobby, Scott and Mrs. Merritt, I am very sorry for your loss. Mr.Merritt was always a very nice man. He always had a smile on his face, was kind to everyone and went out of his way to say hello to you. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
- Ron Winders, Athens, GA
What a wonderful gentleman Mac was. I will always remember him coming in the Commodore Shop with his kind face and gigantic presence. I was so saddened to hear of his passing. God be with you, Ann. We will miss Mac.
- Mary Powers, Savannah, GA
Mac & I played a lot of tennis together at SYC on Saturday mornings and Wednesday nights. We was a great net player and a wonderful teammate on our 3.0 men's team. We have missed him on the courts.
- Mike Skinner, Savannah, GA
I did not know Mac personally, but I know you Anne, and have always kept up with you both through our mutual friends. Our thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family, and may all of the wonderful memories of you together sustain you at this difficult time. Eloise and Jim Melton
- Eloise Melton, Savannah, GA
Scott, Sorry for the lost of your dad, Please know you and your family are in our thoughts and prayers
- Brian Stallings, Acworth, GA
Ann, I'm so sorry that you have lost your dear Mac. My fondest thoughts are with you. Pat
- Pat Ryan, Savannah, GA
Ann and family, I am so sorry to hear about Mac's death. I was so shocked when you told me at the YMCA on Monday. I would have liked to have come and paid my respects to you and meet your family, but missed seeing it in the paper. Mac was such a sweet, gentle man and I really enjoyed getting to know him over the last few years at the Y. He was such a joy to have in my Senior Class and he will be missed. He gave his all everytime he came to the class and I loved chatting with him before and after class. He was indeed a wonderful gentleman. I will miss him.....My prayers are with you. Gail
- Gail Ewaldsen, Savannah, GA
Dear Ann: We are thinking of you in your time of loss. We know that Mac will be greatly missed. You will be in our prayers in the coming days.
- David & Linda Vidar, Morristown, TN
My family and I are praying for you all. I know your dad is proud of all you have accomplished. Hang in there.
- Ryan Jenkins, Cumming, GA
What a privilege it was to know and work with Mac! Ann, Our prayers are with you and your family. Elaine
- Elaine and Kenny Williams, Baxley, GA
Our thoughts and prayers have been with you this week. Ann, you know how we loved Mac. We will miss him so much. Will be with you as soon as we return home. Love to Bobby and Scot and their families, too. Steve and Emily
- Emily Eady, Savannah, GA
Bobby, Scott and Mrs. Merritt, I am very sorry for your loss. Mr.Merritt was always a very nice man. He always had a smile on his face, was kind to everyone and went out of his way to say hello to you. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
- Ron Winders, Athens, GA
What a wonderful gentleman Mac was. I will always remember him coming in the Commodore Shop with his kind face and gigantic presence. I was so saddened to hear of his passing. God be with you, Ann. We will miss Mac.
- Mary Powers, Savannah, GA
Mac & I played a lot of tennis together at SYC on Saturday mornings and Wednesday nights. We was a great net player and a wonderful teammate on our 3.0 men's team. We have missed him on the courts.
- Mike Skinner, Savannah, GA
I did not know Mac personally, but I know you Anne, and have always kept up with you both through our mutual friends. Our thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family, and may all of the wonderful memories of you together sustain you at this difficult time. Eloise and Jim Melton
- Eloise Melton, Savannah, GA
Scott, Sorry for the lost of your dad, Please know you and your family are in our thoughts and prayers
- Brian Stallings, Acworth, GA
Services under the direction of:
Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors, Hodgson Chapel
912-352-7200
