Jody Merritt

Jody M. Merritt, age 56, of Spicer and formerly of Porter, died peacefully Friday, December 30, at her home near Spicer of a terminal illness which she was diagnosed with in June of 2016.

A graveside service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Sunday, July 2, 2017 at Cloverleaf Memorial Park Cemetery in Willmar. A memorial will follow at the Halverson family farm in rural Spicer. Memorials are preferred to Mental Health Minnesota, mentalhealthmn.org. Funeral arrangements are with the Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar, www.petersonbrothers.com.

Jody Michelle Merritt was born April 1, 1960, in Willmar, Minnesota, the daughter of Virgil and Kay (Hood) Halverson. She was baptized and received her first communion at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Willmar. In 1970, her family moved to Granite City, Illinois, and she he graduated from Edwardsville High School in 1978. Jody returned to Minnesota in 1984. On March 31, 1995, she was united in marriage to Alan Clark Merritt and they resided in Porter, Minnesota.

As a young woman, she worked at various racetracks grooming horses. Later in life, she worked as a janitor. Jody will be fondly remembered for her gentle, kind, and simple spirit and her great love for animals and the outdoors.

She is survived by her husband: Alan Merritt of Porter, MN; two daughters: Rebecca Akerson of Pennock, MN, and Trisha Hoffman of Canby, MN; her mother, Kay Kincer of Williamsburg, MO; three brothers: Bryan Halverson of Williamsburg, MO, Jeffrey (and Kelly) Halverson of Gulf Port, MS, and Shawn Halverson of Ottertail, MN; four sisters: Kim Halverson-Moos of Spicer, MN, Debra Halverson of Spicer, MN, Karin (and Lindell) Blankenship of Williamsburg, MO, and Shannon Halverson of Jefferson City, MO; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her father: Virgil Halverson; and a brother: Larry Halverson.

Cemetery Details