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Sadly, my Brother Leonard (Len) Merchant passed away on August 19, 2020 from complications following hip surgery that morning. (b. Apr 9, 1948). My Brother will be remembered for his love of others, he was always there to help someone else while putting his own needs aside. He had a sense of humor that would catch new people of guard until they got to know him. He is a U.S. Navy Viet Nam Veteran, serving on the USS Hornet in Gulf of Tonkin, Honorable Discharge 1970, and became a Texan in 1971 once he moved to Houston. Moved to Austin 2008 where he lived out the rest of his years working at Travis County Correctional Facility. Loving husband to Pam, loving father to Lee, Aimee and Shawna.
Love you Brother and will miss you until I too come to Heaven to see you again. Say Hi to Mom and Dad, and keep a cold TarMoonie waiting for me.
And to all you other Vikings in Heaven, please keep a sternlight on for me so I can find my way to the ship when I get there.
GOD bless you all.
Gary Merchant (Class of '69)
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Pamela McKee (Ayala) (1966)
Sorry for your loss Merchant family. I took drivers ed one summer with Leonard. Always funny and making people in the car laugh. Rest in Peace Leonard.
Mike Richards (1966)
I am saddened to learn of the passing of Leonard. My deepest condolences to all of his family and friends who loved him. It is joyful to know that those who place their trust and belief in Jesus Christ will one day again be reunited with him. Class of 1966, Your are so special.
Edith Benkovsky (Nelsen) (1966)
My heartfelt condolences to Leonard's family on the loss of one so dear to you. May your memories bring you peace and comfort~~always remember the love! Peace and blessings to all my fellow Viking classmates of 1966...Edith
Laurie Ryan (Sargent) (1966)
All of us who knew Leonard and "hung around" with him during those fun years, will always remember a super person who was the funniest and the best to hang with. There were some serious times too. I will never forget "Len" and am sending a prayer for his family.
Carol Hitchcock (Smith) (1966)
Sorry to hear another one of the first Moreno Valley "Vikings" have passed. Knowing where he is and that he'll be looking out for all of us is also a comfort to us.
Condolenaces to the family.
Carol (Hitchcock) Smith
Class of '66
Paul Breitkreuz (1966)
I'd recently posted this sad update about Leonard as a result of an email I'd received from his younger brother Gary.
I knew Leonard for MANY years as a result of having various classes with him over our decade of schooling throughout the MoVal area. We also finished out our senior year together and graduated as the first class out of MoVal HS in 1966. After that we both like many at that time went into the military.
As always it's sad to see the updates regarding our classmates and friends passing away. Leonard was a good hearted person and I'm sure he carried that excellent trait on into his military service, later career, and of course on with his caring family members too.
R.I.P. Leonard.
Jean Wyatt (Sullivan) (1966)
So Sorry, extremely hard news to hear of his passing.
Dale Ashley (1966)
I am so sorry to hear about Leonard's passing. Leonard and I became friends at an early age in Edgemont before we became Vikings. We last spoke at one of the reunions and made contact once in awhile on Facebook. I know this will be a tough time for his family and offer my prayers in this time of need. Be strong Leonard would want you to remember the good times with a smile.
Steve Kaufmann (1966)
Some day soon we will be celebrating a brand new life together in the future of the LORD in the perfect kingdom with the Lord of Lord and King of Kings. We can be very thankful for having great memories with great friends, a sick sense of humor I would count as a blessing for us and people around us and Len was one of those Great people. This only makes it more difficult to say later. May our God comfort your blessed family through these difficult times
Gary Merchant (1969)
Thank You for all of your replies and memories of Len, they are comforting and confirmation that he was a good guy and liked by others even way back then. He never really changed his road, though he did hit a few potholes along the way as we all do. He stayed true to always being himself, comfortable in his own skin, always willing to stop and help someone who needed an extra hand. And, if he couldn't help, he always seemed to have a funny comment on why you just need to get a new one!. Again, thanks to everyone for remembering him and we will see him again in Heaven.