Merle D. Sharick, Sr.
Pt. Charlotte, FL Mr. Merle D. Sharick, Sr. of Pt. Charlotte passed away on April 13, 2010 at Fawcett Memorial Hospital. Sharick was the son of the late Thomas and Lizzie Averill Sharick of Toluca, IL. He was a U.S. Navy veteran and the twin brother of the late Earl Clayton Sharick of Lacon, IL.
Born June 3, 1915 in Marshall County, IL Sharick graduated from Lacon Community High School and received a B.S. degree from Illinois State University at Normal in 1937. On September 16, 1939 he and the late Joyce Reed of Gilman, IL eloped and were married in Iowa City, Iowa. Mrs. Sharick passed away on February 22, 1996.
He taught and coached in Leroy, IL prior to entering the Navy serving until Dec. 1, 1945. Sharick was a very successful industrial arts teacher and coach at Lombard Junior High School in Galesburg, IL for many years prior to retiring and relocating to Pt. Charlotte, FL with Joyce in 1979. For many years, both were active at the Culture Center of Charlotte County, Pt. Charlotte United Methodist Church and Charlotte Harbor Yacht Club.
Surviving are his son, Merle D. Butch Sharick and daughter-in-law Cheryl of Prosperity, SC; brother Leslie of Chillicothe, IL.; granddaughters Amber Sharick of Golden, CO. and Cami Sharick of Lewisville, NC.; and great grand children Malakai Sharick-Duckworth and Bellarose Sharick-Duckworth of Lewisville, NC.; many nieces and nephews; and good friend Clare Vignola of St. Charles, IL.
Military honors by the U.S. Navy will be scheduled at a later date at the national veterans cemetery in South Carolina. Additionally, a memorial service will be held at Douglas T. Jacobson Veterans’ Nursing Home in Pt. Charlotte in July. Please keep Merle in your thoughts and prayers.
Because of Merle’s commitment to teaching and coaching children–in lieu of flowers, memorials may be contributed to The Boys Farm (www.boysfarm.org) where the focus is on building boys rather than mending men at P.O. Box 713 Newberry, SC 29108. Friends may visit online at www.robersonfh.com to sign the guest book and extend condolences to the family. Arrangements are by Roberson Funeral Home & Crematory Port Charlotte Chapel.