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The same day my mother died, a long-time member of Trinity also died: Alice M. Mershon, wife of James D. Mershon. To make a longer story a little shorter, some time later Susan suggested to me that I ask Mr. Mershon over to dinner. My response was "he was too old." Susan suggested to Jim that he invite me out to dinner. His response, "I don't want to get involved." Well as many "oldtimers" know, Jim and I did start dating and on November 19, 1993 we were married at Trinity.
Although we moved from Matawan to Freehold in 1993, we continued to attend church at Trinity every week and Jim continued to be very active with the church (a member of the Vestry and in charge of Buildings and Grounds). I joined the Altar Guild (eventually becoming director) and the Women's Guild (became secretary of that) and was elected to the Vestry. After Susan left, Rev. William Tibbett was our interim...someone Jim had known for years. Ultimately, Rev. Denise Mantell was called to Trintiy and we became very close to her. In 2003, we downsized and moved to an adult community in Toms River and while we did attend Trinity regularly after the move, we ultimately decided to join Christ Church here in Toms River (at the recommendation of Denise). The rector here in Toms River was (and still is) Rev. Joan Pettite Anders, whose father was Bishop Vincent Pettite, another long-time friend of Jim's. Jim died on May 23, 2008.
Jim's extended family at Trinity was very important to him. Of course, his sister-in-law, Sarah Ellison, and her daughters, Ree Ellison and Alice Karlquist and Alice's children, Kristina and Derek, were all active at Trinity. He made many close friends at Trinity (as did I): the Ratcliffe family, the Frazier family, the Taylor family, Ray and Dottie Scheetz, the Godly family, the McDonald family, Doris Perkins, Signe and Ed Schlotzhauer, Rob & Janis Donnelly, the Rutkowski family, Wendy Goldstein and family, Dorothy Grob, the Knapp family, Ed and Alvie Johnson, the Conover family, Don and Marion Reynolds, Phyllis Gil, Vince & Pat Nardone, to name but a few. Of course, as new families joined Trinity, he became mentors to them too; too numerous to name but they know who they are.
Jim had many happy memories of Trinity and all those whose lives crossed with his. He enjoyed all his years of service and often talked about his many friends. I am most grateful to God for bringing Jim and I together through Trinity. Our nearly 15 years of marriage were the happiest of my life.
