Obituary of Reverend Stanley Ward "Buck" Merrifield

Reverend Stanley Ward “Buck” Merrifield, 82, of Rivesville, West Virginia passed away on Saturday, October 25, 2025 in the Fairmont Regional Medical Center – WVU Medicine. He was born December 22, 1942 in Fairmont, WV the son of the late Clarence Stanley Merrifield and Virginia Lee Scarcella Merrifield. He was preceded in death in 2022, by his wife Nancy Carolyn Roberts (Perkins) Merrifield, who he married on November 16, 1968. Reverend Merrifield is survived by his three children and two sons- in- law, Marci & Mark Tapping of Bournemouth, England, Todd Merrifield of Rivesville, WV, and Buffi & Greg Evans of Mt. Morris, PA, four grandchildren, Zacklyn Lee Merrifield, Whitney Briana Merrifield, Isabella Tapping, and Olivia Tapping, three great- grandchildren, Grayson Charles Gober, Preston Oakley Mascola, and Arrabella Naomi Spine, a sister and her husband, Sue and Michael Merrifield Knepper of Warren, OH, many cousins, nieces & nephews, and a sister-in- law, Sally Roberts of Jasper, TN. He was preceded in death by his sister, Charlene Sue Merrifield Schell, maternal grandparents, John and Mary Scarcella, and paternal grandparents, Clarence and Bertha Merrifield, and his brothers- in- law, Lewis Schell and Jimmy Roberts. Reverend Merrifield was an ordained minister for 53 years with the West Virginia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. He faithfully served several church charges over the years that included Bruceton Mills, Hopewell Union, Pisgah, Sugar Valley, Harmony Grove, Newburg, Independence, Bethel, Syracuse – Ohio Charge, Sardis, Minersville, Forest Run, Cheat Lake, and Calvary. He served over 18 years at Rivesville and Highlawns, and in 2012 till the present, Wesley Chapel, McCurdysville and Jakes Run. He was a 1960 graduate of Fairmont Senior High School, and then attended West Virginia Wesleyan and WVU. He graduated in 1981 from Fairmont State College and also graduated in 1983 from Methesco in Delaware, Ohio with a Master of Divinity. Stanley “Buck” Merrifield was a huge Mountaineer fan. He enjoyed volunteering and was an avid reader and frequented the Barnes and Noble Bookstore in Granville weekly. He loved spending time with his family and friends. We all know he is now with his loving wife Nancy and at rest with the Lord. Memorial contributions may be made to the Shepherd’s Love Food Pantry, c/o Rivesville United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 66, Rivesville, WV 26588. The family will receive friends at the Ford Funeral Home, DeGarmo Chapel, 207 Second Street, Rivesville, WV 26588 on Thursday, October 30, 2025 from 2-4 & 6-8 pm. The visitation will continue on Friday, October 31, 2025 from 10-11 am in the Rivesville United Methodist Church, 103 Jasper Street, Rivesville, WV 26588. The funeral service will be held in the church on Friday at 11:00 am with Pastor David Stilgenbauer, Reverend Mark Flynn, Reverend Bert Coffman and District Superintendent Reverend Stephanie Bennett officiating. A service of committal will follow in the Beverly Hills Memorial Gardens in Westover, WV. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.fordfuneralhomes.com.