Rodney E. "Reel" Merrifield Jr., 24, of 16 E. Central Ave., Avis, died Sunday, Sept. 30, 2012, in the Evangelical Community Hospital in Lewisburg from injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident on Saturday evening.
Rodney was born March 23, 1988, in Williamsport. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and collecting guns. For many years, he was employed by Grenoble's Disposal Service and was a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church.
He is survived by his mother and father, Ronald and Holly Kristine Smeltzer of Avis; sisters, Ashley A. (Jake) Messick of Salladasburg, Rhonda M. (Chris) McDonough of Jersey Shore and Adrienne Smeltzer of Jersey Shore; two brothers, Maynard F. Smeltzer of Pineville, N.C., and Scott R. Smeltzer of Oriole, plus one additional brother, Jason and two sisters, Sherry and Sierra; his paternal grandmother, Verna Ludwig of Antes Fort; a maternal grandfather, Wayne A. Ryan of Avis; maternal great-grandparents, Donald and Zora Brandt of Jersey Shore; and his maternal great-grandmother, Betty J. Ryan of Linden; also aunts and uncles, Jack and Sharon Ryan and Dave and Kelli Paulhamus; and his cousins, Jack and Dave.
Memorial services will be Friday, Oct. 5, 2012, at 11 a.m. in the Frederick B. Welker Funeral Home, 125 N. Main St., Jersey Shore. Friends may call from 9:30 a.m. Friday until time of services in the funeral home. Rev. David McCoy will officiate.
