Obituary of Merle Colford

Merle Francis Colford October 19, 1947 – January 8, 2024 It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our stepfather, Merle Colford, after a brief illness at Brantford General Hospital, on January 8, 2024. Merle worked at KeepRite and Brant Taxi for a number of years before joining our Mom in running Designs by J.R for 27 years. Merle, always our “social butterfly”, was always busy helping friends and family, visiting the antique market with Fred and Rick (and bringing home his “treasures”), collecting scrap metal, cutting wood, road tripping with good friend John or just enjoying coffee at Tim Horton’s every morning with his “coffee club”. He will be greatly missed by many, many friends across Ontario and Down East. Please know you are all in our thoughts. Merle is predeceased by his life partner and best friend, Jean Rivais (2021), his loving son Michel (2014), parents Patrick and Viola and siblings Albert, Lawrence, Theresa and Glenna-Marie. He is survived by his stepdaughters, Kim Rivais and Karen Rivais (Bill), his grandkids Dan (Rachel), Natalie (Steven), Derek and Jamie as well as his siblings Martin (Rhoda – deceased), Roy (Patricia), Peggy (David), Leslie (Heather – deceased), Norma (Richard – deceased), Glenn (Betty), Loretta (Wayne), Colleen (James – deceased) and Joe (Tammy). He is also survived by daughters Cheryl, Cindy and granddaughters Sarah and Aimee. Family and friends will be received at Beckett-Glaves Family Funeral Centre, 88 Brant Ave., Brantford, 519-752-4331 on Friday, January 19th 2024 from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm with a service to follow in the chapel on Saturday, January 20, 2024 at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or Canadian Diabetes Association are appreciated. A tree will be planted in memory of Merle in the Beckett- Glaves Memorial Forest.