Oct 28, 2022

Merle L. Ayres, 88, of Bulger, Smith Township, passed away October 26, 2022.

Mr. Ayres was born October 6, 1934, in McDonald, a son of the late Harry and Ruby Longstreth Ayres.

Merle was a retired foreman for J&L Steel and LTV Steel, where he worked for over 42 years.

Before working, Merle graduated from McDonald High School, Class of 1954. High school is where his true love of sports began. Merle was obsessed with all sports, but especially football and baseball. No matter what was happening throughout the day, Merle never missed a chance to watch a game. Even when his Pittsburgh sports team were not playing their best, Merle watched with dedication and pride.

His love for sports didn’t just stop with watching them, no, Merle played and coached as well. In his younger years, Merle was a youth football coach for Burgettstown School District, where he also served as a former member of the Burgettstown School Board for 25 years. He also enjoyed playing softball for his local teams such as Langeloth and Bulger.

Merle was a simple man. truly. He enjoyed his vacations to the beach and his time in the sun and especially his cars. His meticulous manner shined through when you would see his cars. Merle loved his Cadillacs and kept them as if they had just come off the lot.

More than anything, Merle was a family man. The dedication he had to his family superseded any sports team. He and his loving wife of 65 years, Leoma, raised a beautiful and hardworking family together. Merle was so proud of all of his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and the lives that they had made for themselves. Merle and his wife taught their children the value of hard work, as Merle and his wife would spend three weeks setting up their Christmas decorations. Their house was always decorated to the nines and it always required extra hands. The love and laughter that was shared in the presence of Merle is something that his family and friends will now cherish forever.

Surviving are his loving wife, Leoma Prata Ayres; children, Merle (Sherry) Ayres, Robbi (Bobby) Dowler and Mitchell (Sherri) Ayres; grandchildren, Anjelica (Anthony Martin) Ayres, Brianna Ayres, Aubrey (Alex Endler) Ayres, Robert (Marsha) Dowler, Nicole (Sean) Heran, Jeremy (Terri Whitefield) Dowler, Jill Lugaila and Lori Larmarca; along with several great-grandchildren; and sister, Alice Oblock.

Along with his parents, Merle was preceded in death by his brother, Harry Ayres; and great granddaughter. Avyn Ruby Martin.

Friends and family will be received from 1 to 5 p.m., the time of a service, Sunday, October 30, in the Thomas-Little Funeral Service, Inc., 314 W. Lincoln Avenue, McDonald (724-926-2800).