Merle Edward Surritt, Jr., 82 of Atchison, KS died on Friday, October 20th, 2023, at the Atchison Senior Village.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Tuesday, October 24th, 2023, at the Becker-Dyer-Stanton Funeral Home with Pastor Stephen Lucas officiating. Burial will follow in the Mt. Vernon Cemetery. The family will receive friends for one hour prior to services at the funeral home. Memorial contributions are suggested to Shriners Children- Hospital or the Atchison Humane Society and may be sent in care of the funeral home. Condolences and remembrances may be left online at www.beckerdyer.com.

Merle was born on July 5th, 1941, in Atchison, Kansas, the son of Merle E. and Alberta (Peters) Surritt, Sr. He graduated from Atchison High School in 1959. Merle served in the Army National Guard for a short time. He owned and operated Surritt Service and worked as an appliance repair technician for many years. He also co-owned the March Furniture Store in Atchison. He was a member of the River Rod Club and enjoyed his dogs, working on and restoring old cars, traveling, and attending car shows. He was head mechanic for open wheel late model stock car racing in the 1960- and built his own house.

Merle was married to Barbara Lockhart on June 8th, 1963. She survives. Additional survivors include a son, Michael (Denise) Surritt, Atchison, two daughters, Laura (Lee) Genail, Mooresville, NC and Jennifer (Brian) Bissell, Lancaster, KS, a brother, William Surritt, Kansas City, MO, a sister, Shirley Hennis, Amarillo, TX, seven grandchildren, Andrew (Rachel) Genail, Austin (Kiley) Surritt, J. Patrick (Nicole) Genail, Nick (Emily) Surritt, Erika (Reagan) Kinzer, Nathan (MacKinzie) Bissell, Madison Bissell-Robinson (Preston) and seven great grandchildren. His parents and brother-in-law, Ted Hennis preceded him in death.