Jason B. Merchant was born on February 21, 1942 to the parents of Nora Lee Merchant and Louis Lemon in Sunflower, Mississippi. He was preceded in death by his father, Nora Lee Merchant and siblings, Bernard Merchant, Olivia Montgomery, Carla Merchant, two nieces Angela & Shelley Granderson, one nephew, Charley Merchant.
Jason was educated in the Lincoln Public School System in Venice, Illinois.
Jason worked as an auto mechanic at Yust, Inc. then as a machine operator at Kerr McGee where he retired. He was well known & loved as a mechanic; he could listen to a car & tell you exactly what was wrong with it.
Jason met his beloved wife, Bertha Cook in June, 1961 in Carthage, Mississippi in the cotton fields where he chopped & picked cotton with her to win her heart, and they wed in holy matrimony in December 1961 then they moved to Madison, Illinois, to this union was born three Renee, Jason and Lisa. Jason always enjoyed helping his family and friends in any way that he could.
Jason leaves to cherish his memories his wife of 55 years, Bertha Merchant; two daughters, Renee (Zorobabel) Collins of Granite City, Il and Lisa Merchant of Madison, IL; one son, Jason (Valerie) Merchant of Seattle, WA; five grandchildren, Cory Collins and Arshondra Collins of Collinsville, IL, Jason III and Jennifer Merchant and Chancellor (Seana) Merchant of Seattle, WA, India Merchant of Madison, IL; 8 great-grandchildren; his mother, Louise Dunson of Maryville, IL; three brothers, Edwin Merchant of St. Louis, MO, Eddie (Brenda) Merchant of Detroit, MI, and Willie Kidd of Madison, IL; four sisters, Lydia, Diane, Mary and Rachel all of St. Louis, MO; a host of nieces, nephews and a special friend, Karl Brent.