Sources |
- [S106] The Mountain Press, 1 Aug 2005.
Motorcyclists pay tribute to fallen deputy
By: CRAIG MINTZ, Staff Writer August 01, 2005
Photo by Craig Mintz
A participant in the Deputy Toby Merritt Memorial Motorcycle Ride gets registered Saturday as other bikers wait behind him.
SEVIERVILLE - Hundreds of motorcyclists honored the memory of Sevier County Sheriff's Deputy Toby Merritt Saturday as they rode together from Smokies Stadium to Maryville and donated thousands of dollars for the family he left behind.
Merritt, 31, died as the result of motorcycle accident in Jefferson County on June 4 while off duty. He left behind a wife and a child.
Art Schettini, of the Shiloh Riders, and Charles and Wendy Thomas decided to organize a memorial ride raising money for the family.
"It's a great turnout," said Wendy Thomas as she surveyed the parking lot full of motorcycles at Smokies Stadium. "There's a very large law enforcement presence here."
Beginning at 1 p.m., riders made a 50-mile trek from the stadium to Smoky Mountain Harley Davidson in Maryville. In addition to those who knew Merritt, riders from surrounding states joined in.
Schettini, who knew Merritt and his family, said he was a great man and talked about his generosity.
"He was one of those guys, if he had it, you had it."
Det. Jeff McCarter, of the Sevier County Sheriff's Department, also noted Merritt's willingness to help everyone using his talents as a builder.
"He was very helpful, not only as a police officer but as an individual," said McCarter. "He's sorely missed."
* cmintz@themountainpress.com
- [S23] Atchley Funeral Home, (http://www.atchleyfuneralhome.com/), 4 Jun 2005.
Toby Joe Merritt
April 11, 1974 - June 04, 2005
Birthplace: Sevier County, Tennessee
Resided In: Sevierville Tennessee USA
Visitation: June 07, 2005
Service: June 08, 2005
Cemetery: Smoky Mountain Memory Gardens
Toby Joe Merritt, age 31 of Sevierville, died Saturday, June 4, 2005. He had been a Deputy with the Sevier County Sheriff’s Department since 1992.
He was preceded in death by his son, Bradley Wayne Merritt, grandparents, Lloyd and Gertrude Bradley, Roy and Helen Merritt
Survivors:
Wife: Lorrie Ann Merritt
Daughter: Payeton Merritt
Brother: Michael Merritt
Parents: Annette and Steve Merritt
Father-in-law and mother-in-law: Dave and Laura Houseman
Brother-in-law: David Houseman
Several cousins and friends
Memorials may be made to the Building Fund of Gum Stand Baptist Church, P.O. 613, Pigeon Forge, TN, 37868.
Funeral service 11 AM Wednesday in the West Chapel of Atchley Funeral.Rev. Ronnie Reagan officiating. Interment will follow in Smoky Mountain Memory Gardens. The family will receive friends 6-9 PM Tuesday at Atchley Funeral Home, Sevierville. (www.atchleyfuneralhome.com)
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 7 Jun 2005.
Sevier County deputy killed in crash in Jefferson County
By: KATHY HEMSWORTH
Source: The Newport Plain Talk
06-07-2005
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DANDRIDGE—An off-duty Sevier County deputy was killed in a motorcycle accident in Jefferson County on Saturday night.
No other vehicles were involved in the wreck, which occurred on West Highway 25-70 near Dumplin Loop Road, outside Dandridge.
Toby Joe Merritt, 31, had served with the Sevier County Sheriff’s Department since 1992, when he was hired as a dispatcher. He later became a deputy.
Authorities reported that Merritt lost control of his motorcycle in a curve. His wife, Lorrie Ann, was reportedly riding along with him on another motorcycle.
In addition to his wife, a daughter survives Merritt.
The family will receive friends Tuesday night from 6 to 9 p.m. at Atchley Funeral Home, 118 East Main Street, Sevierville.
The funeral will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday in the funeral home’s west chapel with interment in Smoky Mountain Memory Gardens in Pigeon Forge.
- [S106] The Mountain Press, 7 Jun 2005.
Officer dies in wreck
By: CRAIG MINTZ
Staff Writer June 07, 2005
JEFFERSON COUNTY - A motorcycle accident here took the life of a Sevier County Sheriff's deputy Saturday, while a Sevier County accident killed a Jefferson City man.
Deputy Toby Joe Merritt, 31, was apparently riding his motorcycle Saturday when he lost control of the bike in a curve, according to Sevier County Sheriff Bruce Montgomery. He said Merritt's wife, Lorrie Ann, had been riding with him on another motorcycle.
Montgomery said his family and Merritt's mother's family have always been friends.
"I've known Toby basically all his life," said Montgomery.
The Gatlinburg-Pittman High School graduate was hired by then Sheriff Don Ogle in 1992 as a dispatcher.
After Montgomery settled in as sheriff, Merritt approached him about becoming a patrolman. When a position came open, Montgomery was able to get him on the road.
"He was a very intelligent young man," said Montgomery. "He used common sense about law enforcement. He made a lot of friends out there. He will certainly be missed."
Tennessee Highway Patrol officials who worked the scene of the accident could not be reached Sunday afternoon.
Merritt is survived by his wife, daughter, Payeton Merritt, and several other family members.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday in the West Chapel of Atchley Funeral Home in Sevierville with the Rev. Ronnie Reagan officiating. Interment will follow in Smoky Mountain Memory Gardens. The family will receive friends from 6 until 9 p.m. Tuesday at Atchley Funeral Home.
Also on Saturday, on Asheville Highway at Moon Road, 57-year-old Joseph Ryals Jr., of Jefferson City, was killed after he lost control of his pick-up truck, according to Tennessee Highway Patrolman Jeff Hood.
"Speed was definitely a factor," said Hood.
Just after 4 p.m., Ryals went off the side of the road, struck a culvert, flipped at least five times, and was ejected from the truck, Hood said.
Ryals was pronounced dead at the scene, said Hood.
cmintz@themountainpress.com
- [S106] The Mountain Press, 10 Jun 2005.
Community remembers deputy
By: JEFF FARRELL
Staff Writer June 10, 2005
Officers from the Oak Ridge Police Department were among the many area law enforcement agencies attending the funeral service.
Mourners pay last respects to deputy killed in motorcycle crash
SEVIERVILLE - Law enforcement officers from throughout the area joined other mourners Wednesday in paying their last respects to Sheriff's Deputy Toby Merritt.
Merritt died Saturday as a result of a motorcycle accident in Jefferson City. He was 31.
He was laid to rest Wednesday at Smoky Mountain Memory Gardens in Pigeon Forge after a morning service at Atchley Funeral Home.
"It was huge numbers at both services," Sheriff Bruce Montgomery said following the ceremonies. "The number of people that attended speaks for itself."
Local sheriff's deputies and other law enforcement officers filled one section of seats at Merritt's funeral; other mourners filled the other two.
Montgomery said he was thankful for the large response from the law enforcement community, and also for officers from local departments who filled in for deputies who attended the services Tuesday and Wednesday.
Pastor Ronnie Reagan, eulogizing Merritt, said the deputy lived a full life in his short time.
"Everybody who knew Toby knew he lived life to the fullest," Merritt said.
Reagan said Merritt was always ready to take the lead when others might be content to sit back.
Reagan noted he grew up during the days of cowboys, and said that Merritt reminded him of the people who would break in a horse.
"Always there were people gathered around watching, but there was one person on the bronco," he said. "That was Toby."
He also noted the number of friends, family and colleagues who filled the chapel, and who had come by to comfort Merritt's family since his death.
"When something happens to a brother or sister, we're there for them," he said.
Sgt. David Roberson said after the ceremonies that Merritt had been with the department throughout his entire 10-year career.
"He was a really good guy. There wasn't anything he wouldn't do for you, on the job or off," he said.
Montgomery noted that Merritt died doing one of the things he loved.
"He went to meet his maker doing what he loved to do," the sheriff said.
jfarrell@themountainpress.com
|