Paul DeMerchant

Obituary of Paul David DeMerchant

Paul David DeMerchant was born in Royal Oak, Michigan on December 15, 1939 to Roy and Merida DeMerchant. He had one brother, Blanchard DeMerchant. His childhood and teenage years were spent in Royal Oak, MI. Paul graduated from Fort Wayne Bible College, in Fort Wayne, Indiana. In 1962 Paul married Joan Hoxsey. They were married 60 years.

Paul spent 45 years in Christian ministry. First as Youth Pastor at Trinity Missionary Church in Flint, MI. Then as Senior Pastor in Woodburn, IN at the Woodburn Missionary Church. Paul and Joan prepared to be missionaries with a missionary internship program and then spent 10 years serving as missionaries in Haiti. Followed by 11 years as Senior Pastor at Granger Missionary Church, in Granger, IN.

In 1989 they moved to Port Huron, MI to serve as the Christian Education Director at Colonial Woods Missionary Church. Then Paul was nominated to serve as District Superintendent of the Missionary Churches of Michigan. He was then nominated to be the Director of World Partners for the Missionary Church of Canada and the US. Followed by 3 years in Huntington, IN as Senior Pastor of Union Church.

In 2002 Paul and Joan moved to Bellingham, WA. Paul served his final years of official ministry as Senior Pastor at Light and Life Free Methodist Church. Paul retired in 2006. They enjoyed their home in Bellingham until they moved to Orting, WA in 2018. Paul and Joan also enjoyed their winters at the Venture Out Community in Mesa, AZ for the past several years.

Paul loved and served his beloved Savior, Jesus Christ, with all his heart, soul, strength and mind. And he dearly loved his family and friends. He was a sweet blessing to all who knew him. Paul enjoyed his hobbies of stamp collecting, running and hiking. He was a master at puzzles, crosswords and games. Paul was a kind-hearted, gentle and faithful man of God.

Paul was proceeded in death by his parents, his brother, Blanchard DeMerchant and his grandson, Josiah Richards. He is survived by his loving wife, Joan; his son, Jeff DeMerchant and wife, Danielle of Benton, KY; his daughter, Ginny and husband, Jay Richards of University Park, MD; his daughter, Holly and husband, Dan Alexander of Bonney Lake, WA; and his grandchildren, Cassie Beaman (husband Eric Beaman), Bethany DeMerchant, James DeMerchant, Gillian Richards, Ellie Richards, Josephine Alexander, Benjamin Alexander and Faith DeMerchant.

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