Obituaries

Merrill Nelson

Merrill Frederick Nelson, MD, 87, of Signal Mountain, died Friday, April 20, 2012, at Alexian Village Health Center.Merrill was born Dec. 8, 1924 in Iowa City, Iowa, where his father was an economics professor at the University of Iowa. He moved to Alexandria, Va., in 1937 but spent his summers on family farms in Iowa and Minnesota.He graduated from George Washington High School in Alexandria, enrolled at Johns Hopkins University, attending year round. In 1943 he entered University of Chicago Medical School, graduated third in his class in 1947 at the age of 22. He completed his Internal Medicine internship at Baltimore City Hospital, where he met Margaret Weskett, a registered dietitian. They were married for 63 years. In 1950 he entered the V-12 program in the United Stated Navy and served in the Korean War. Upon his return, he completed his residency in Internal Medicine at George Washington University Hospital in 1953. He then served in the United States Army as a Medical Doctor at Fort Meade, Maryland, obtaining the rank of Captain. In 1954, he moved to Chattanooga to join Dr. Philip Livingston in Internal Medicine. In 1955, he became associated with Campbells Clinic on McCallie Avenue. He practiced there for 30 years in partnership with Dr. Wayne Gilley. In 1984, the practice moved to North Park Hospital. He retired in 1990.Merrill was known for working long hours and making house calls for which he charged $8.He loved to travel, especially to Mexico. He had numerous hobbies including hunting, spear fishing, marksmanship, golf, tennis, snow skiing, scuba diving, growing roses and hang gliding. He also was an avid mountain climber, logging ascents of Mount Ranier, the Grand Teton, The Matterhorn, and Popocatepetl among others. He loved classical music and the arts. Merrills sense of humor, kindness and positive attitude will be missed by his friends and family.He was a fellow of the American College of Cardiology. He was a deacon at Brainerd Presbyterian Church and for the last 25 years was a member of Signal Mountain Presbyterian Church.Merrill was predeceased in death by his parents, Richard Ward and Marion Vanderwicken Nelson; his wife, Margaret Weskett Nelson; and his daughter, Catherine Nelson Pineyro.Merrill is survived by his sister, Rosalie (Harold) Yates, of Gig Harbor, Wash.; three sons, Edward (Susan) Nelson, of Tupelo, Miss., Dr. John (Lori) Nelson, of Lookout Mountain, Tenn., and Ward (Margaret) Nelson of Lookout Mountain, Ga. He is also survived by 10 grandchildren, Alma (Gustavo) Pineyro, Carlos Pineyro, Amy, Marian, Rachel, Sarah, Julia, Merrill II, Sam and Wes Nelson; and two great-grandchildren, John Andrew and Sam Dill. Barbara Grayson and Anne Thorne were special friends.A memorial service will be held at Signal Mountain Presbyterian Church at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 28, with visitation one hour prior to the service.Visit www.heritagefh.com to share words of comfort to the family.In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Chattanooga Symphony and Opera, Hunter Museum or Signal Mountain Presbyterian Church.Arrangements by Heritage Funeral Home, 7454 East Brainerd Road.

Published April 27, 2012

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