Dick Merchant

Dick Merchant, 81, formally from Carlsbad, NM passed away on November 25, 2022, in Weatherford, TX. Dick was born on November 28, 1940, in El Paso, TX to JD and Mollie Merchant.

Visitation is scheduled from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM Thursday, December 1, 2022, at Denton-Wood Funeral Home. A funeral service is scheduled for 3:00 PM Friday, December 2, 2022, at the Grace Episcopal Church with Rev. Cindy Lose officiating. Interment will follow at the Carlsbad Cemetery. Denton-Wood Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

As a young kid, Dick grew up in Carlsbad and spent his summers working at the San Simon Ranch in Lea County, where his family raised cattle since the late 1800’s. After high school, Dick went to college to become an electrical engineer. He worked for Arizona Public Services, and then moved back to Carlsbad and work for Southwestern Public Service Company and later for Xcel Energy where he retired from. At a young age, Dick found a love for pianos. He became a skilled player as well as learned how to restore player pianos. This passion led him to have a life long love for the arts. He played the piano all over Carlsbad for different events, some of which were for the Carlsbad Rotary Club and Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce, and he served for many years on the board of the Carlsbad Community Concert Association. Dick was also a long-term member of the Carlsbad Downtown Lions Club, and he always loved putting out the flags during the holidays. His legacy of music and community service continues on through all who knew him.

Dick was preceded in death by his father, JD Merchant; mother, Mollie Merchant; wife, Mary Merchant; and son, John Merchant.

Dick is survived by his daughter, Carolyn Kehrman and husband, Robert of Hudson Oaks, TX; daughter-in-law, Charlene Merchant; nine grandchildren: Alexandra Kehrman, Stephen Kehrman, Kylie Kehrman, Isaac Kehrman, Sandy Kehrman, Caleb Kehrman, John Ezekiel Kehrman, Paige Merchant, and Dalton Merchant; one great grandchild, Seylah Williams.

Pallbearers will be Bobby Kehrman, Steve Kehrman, Zeke Kehrman, Dalton Merchant, Clabe Pearson and Tommy Pearson.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Carlsbad Community Concert Association, c/o Carlsbad Community Foundation, 114 S. Canyon Street, Carlsbad, NM  88220. Condolences may be expressed at dentonwood.com