Merlin Ray Eash, 90, of Meadows at Mercy Creek, Normal, IL, formerly of Chenoa, passed away at 1:47 p.m. Tuesday, January 16, 2018 at Advocate BroMenn Medical Center, Normal.

Visitation will be from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m., Saturday, January 20, 2018 with a church service following at 11:00 a.m. Both visitation and funeral service will be at Christ Community Church (formerly First United Presbyterian Church), Chenoa, Illinois. A private family burial will follow in Chenoa Township Cemetery.

Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Chenoa is in charge of services. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations be made to one of the following:  Meadows Mennonite Retirement Community, Community Cancer Center Foundation (Normal, IL), or Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF).

Merlin was born September 8, 1927 on the family farm near Chenoa, to Walter and Ella (Ringenberg) Eash.  He married Norma Lorene Hewitt, of Chenoa, on October 1, 1948.

Merlin graduated from Chenoa High School in 1945. After graduation, he began flying lessons at the Bloomington Airport and he became a private pilot.  He had a passion for flying and was a member of the Pontiac Flying Club.  When he and Norma married, they began farming on the family farm northwest of Chenoa.  He also started dairy farming and raising children, both bringing joy to his days.

In 1964, the family moved into Chenoa and Merlin took on a new role as a Star Route Mail Carrier. There are many memories of the mail route for his family and friends.  Many of these friends are the people he met along the routes, forming lifelong connections.  Merlin returned to the family farm after the route years, raising small herds of cattle. After retirement, Merlin was kept busy helping others in the community with travel to appointments, visits to Meadows, and keeping people laughing with his jokes.

He loved being with his family and playing with his grandchildren and great grandchildren.  There are many hours of video of family as well as Norma's music performances.  They also attended as many of their son's football games as possible, becoming lifelong Illinois Wesleyan football fans.

Survivors include his wife, Norma Eash, his three children Merline (Richard) Erdman, Sterling Illinois, Norman (Cheryl) Eash, Bloomington, Illinois, and Dr. Christine (Patrick) McConnell, Duluth, Minnesota.  Also surviving him are ten grandchildren, Amanda Erdman, Corinne Nye, Dr. David Erdman, Dr. Kyle Eash, Kendra Eash, Kelsey Andrews, Kaylyn Cawley, Karley Eash, Logan McConnell, and Catherine McConnell, as well as 11 great grandchildren. He was also survived by brother in-laws, Richard Jacobs and Wayne Dameron, sister in-law, Marilyn Hewitt and many nieces and nephews.

His parents and one brother, Clifford Eash preceded him in death.