Longtime area minister and businessman, Rev. Harold R. Meriwether, 75, of Carmi died Saturday, August 8, 2015 at 10:35 p.m. at Deaconess VNA Plus Hospice Care Center in Evansville, Indiana. Harold was an ordained Christian minister in the Congregational Christian Church and served many churches including Olive Congregational Church in Albion, Community Church west of Carmi, First Presbyterian in McLeansboro, Zion EUB north of Carmi, Union Church of Norris City and Richland Congregational Christian Church of Fairfield. Kay and Harold also owned and operated Harold’s Dollar Store on Main Street in Carmi for 30 years. Harold was lovingly known as the “flower king” because of the large assortment of beautiful memorial flowers that he offered.
He was a charter member of the White County Historical Society, the Carmi Rotary Club, a Paul Harris Fellow Club recipient, a member of the Carmi Jaycees, the Carmi Chamber of Commerce, and Olive Congregational Christian Church. After his retirement he attended Maunie United Methodist Church and Big Prairie United Methodist Church. He was an interpreter of history for Historic New Harmony for the past 21 years and the chairman of Commission of Churches for the Midwest Association of Congregational Christian Churches. He attended Johnson Bible College in Knoxville, Tennessee and was a graduate of Trinity Bible College in Newburgh, Indiana with a Bachelor’s degree in Christian Education.
Survivors include his wife, Kay Meriwether; a son, Bruce Meriwether and daughter and son-in-law, Susan and Gary Keck all of Carmi; a grandson, Larrin Q. Keck of Carmi; a brother and sister-in-law, Jim and Verla Meriwether of Fairfield; two brothers-in-law and a sister-in-law, Charles Frederick and June Downen of Merritt Island, Florida and Wayne Funkhouser of Fairfield; and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services for Rev. Harold R. Meriwether, 75, of Carmi, have been postponed until further notice because of a medical emergency in the family.
Memorial gifts may be given in Harold’s name to Maunie United Methodist Church or Big Prairie United Methodist Church and will be accepted at Campbell Funeral Home in Carmi who is in charge of arrangements.