Carl A. Merrick

Carl Alvin Merrick passed away on May 31, 2026, at home surrounded by his family.

Born on March 8, 1956, Carl was the second son of the late Alvin and Alice Merrick.  Raised in the tiny borough of Ivyland in then rural Bucks County, Pennsylvania, the Merrick children had an idyllic place to learn, play, and grow. With a community ball field practically in the front yard and a homemade tennis ball field in the back yard, life was a constant ball game.

After attending a private musical kindergarten, Carl attended the Ivyland School, a two-room schoolhouse, as did all the borough children for part of their elementary years.  Carl was known for his generosity even at a young age, once inviting his entire school over to his house for lunch.

Carl attended Log College Junior High School and graduated from William Tennent High School in 1974. He excelled in basketball and baseball and even made the All-Star team after his only season on the football team his senior year.

Carl graduated from Bloomsburg University, where during his senior year he served as President of his fraternity, Beta Sigma Delta, and most importantly, met the love of his life, Lori. After spending his high school and college summers working in the household moving industry, Carl accepted a full-time dispatching position with Allied Van Lines in Chicago.

In 1980, Carl and Lori were married and soon happily welcomed a son and later a daughter into their family. Carl built a successful career in the moving industry that took the family to Minneapolis, and back to Chicago, before they eventually returned to Pennsylvania. There, he served for more than 25 years as Director of Operations for Reads Moving Systems in Hatboro. The family settled in West Chester, where Carl and Lori were able to once again be close to their families and lifelong friends.

Carl was immensely proud of his children, Mike and Jaclyn. No matter how demanding his workday had been, he made it a priority to attend their games, track meets, and other important events. He passed along his love of sports to Mike and treasured the time they spent together cheering on their beloved Philadelphia teams. He also looked forward to visits to Richmond, Virginia, to spend time with Jaclyn and her family.

One of Carl's greatest joys in recent years was becoming "Pop-Pop" to his granddaughter, Julia. He was deeply grateful to have the opportunity to meet his first grandchild and delighted in watching her grow during her first eighteen months. She quickly captured a very special place in his heart.

Carl was a devoted Philadelphia sports fan, never hesitating to explain how he would have called the game differently than the coach. He loved both playing and watching golf, and many Sundays were spent on the course, though he was rarely satisfied with his score, and would often come home saying he was going to sell his clubs.

Music was another lifelong passion and a source of comfort throughout Carl's life. The sounds of Genesis could lift his spirits no matter the circumstance and were often heard in the car, around the house, and even during his hospital stays.  Whether celebrating life's joys or facing its challenges, music had the ability to lighten his mood, and help him forget his troubles for a while.

Carl truly exemplified loyalty and generosity. He would do anything for those he considered friends and formed lasting relationships wherever life and work took him. As a leader, he was known for being fair, supportive, and understanding, always recognizing that family came before work and doing his best to help his employees maintain that balance. The friendships he built across the country—both personal and professional—remained important to him throughout his life, and he continued to value and nurture those connections even in his final days.

Carl's legacy lives on in the family he loved, the friendships he treasured, and the countless lives he touched through his generosity, loyalty, and kindness.

Carl is survived by his beloved wife of 46 years, Lori; his son, Michael; his daughter, Jaclyn (Patrick); and his cherished granddaughter, Julia and a second grandchild, who is expected to arrive in September.  He is also survived by his sister, Lynne Ferral (George); his brothers, John (Mona) and Rob (Joy); and four nieces and nephews and their families.

Relatives and friends are invited to his visitation on Friday, June 12 from 4:00 - 6:00pm at DellaVecchia, Reilly, Smith & Boyd Funeral Home, Inc. 410 North Church Street West Chester, PA 19380

In lieu of flowers and to honor Carl’s long, courageous battle with Myelodysplastic Syndrome, please consider making a donation to the Abramson Cancer Center to support his oncology and transplant teams' research at Penn Medicine.