Burdette Lewis “Bud” MERRELL, 84, of Olean, NY, formerly of Bolivar, NY.
Burdette Lewis “Bud” MERRELL, 84, of Olean, NY, formerly of Bolivar, died Wednesday, March 13, 2024 in Eden Heights, Olean.
Born July 26, 1939, in Nunda, he was the first born of seven children of Clarence and Pearl Buffum Merrell. On June 4, 1960, in Rochester, he married Clara Anne Gerew, who predeceased him on December 20, 2022. A U.S. Navy Veteran, he served honorably as a hospital corpsman from 1956 – 1959.
He was employed by Wellsville Central School for many years, retiring in 1995. Bud also worked as a farmer for many years. Active in his community, he served on the Bolivar-Richburg Central School Board for four years, oversaw the Bolivar Food Pantry for eight years, and served on the Bolivar Fire Commission. He coached youth sports, football, softball, baseball, and basketball, for many years in Avon, Wellsville, and Bolivar. In his later years, he spent much of his time fishing, watching high school sports, and spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and his cat, Pussycat. Bud was a member of Riverside Assembly of God in Wellsville. He resided at Eden Heights in Olean, where the staff became a second family to him.
