Merrel Daniel Booker Jr.

Merrel Daniel Booker Jr. (affectionately known as Booker) was born to Merrel Sr. and Erma Beatrice (Barbour) Booker on September 20, 1941, in Jersey City, New Jersey. He and his family spent his formative years traveling and living in different regions of the country before settling in Chicago.

After graduating from the University of Chicago Lab School, Merrel began his 33 year career with the United State Post Office. A few years into his tenure, he enlisted in the Air Force during the Vietnam War and honed his aircraft maintenance skills working with electronics and radar. After an honorable discharge as a Sergeant First Class, he returned to the Post Office to finish his career as postmaster over different locations.

After retiring from the Post Office, Merrel decided to seek employment with TWA airlines, which allowed him to indulge his love for travel. Whether by plane, train or automobile, he crisscrossed the country – as well as the ocean – to enjoy his life to the full!

As a lifelong member of the Sno Gophers Ski Club, Merrel skied in the Midwest, the Rockies, and in Europe. In 2023, he attended the NBS (National Brotherhood of Skiers) 50th Anniversary Summit as one of the few members who had participated in the very first.

Passionate about aeronautics, Merrel was an active member of the Chicago Model Masters for over 40 years. He built and flew all types of model planes, from plans as well as blueprints, and participated in flying contests throughout the Midwest, winning numerous awards. Merrel was also a Contest Director licensed by the Aeronautical Modelers Association. He could always be counted on in his participation in the many different flying events held by the club. He always enjoyed sharing his wealth of aeronautical knowledge with everyone.

Merrel loved photography and would travel far and wide, capturing everything from landscapes to lighthouses, to magnificent birds in flight. He made countless road trips to take pictures or attend photography classes.

Merrel truly enjoyed a full life with family and friends and with his dog, Rusty, before making his transition on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at the age of 82. He was preceded in death by his parents, Merrel and Erma, as well as his former spouse, Richetta Booker, and is survived by his two daughters, Tanya (Henry) and Tiffanie (Herman), as well as 4 grandchildren (Jasmine, Caleb, Zariah, William); his sister, Thandeka; his sister-in-law, Deborah Ann Scott-Nettles, his niece (Ayesha Scott) and nephew (Richard Jason Scott), as well as their families; his cousins, friends and many loved ones.