Merrill W. Smith, 90, lifelong farmer and resident of Franklin, Johnson County, IN passed away Monday, October 20, 2025 at Compass Park - Indiana Masonic Home in Franklin, IN.

He was born July 26, 1935 in Providence, Johnson County, IN to Ivory Murton Smith and Delphia Marie (Long) Smith.  He married Kathleen (Mitchell) Smith on March 29, 1955 at the Trafalgar Christian Church; she preceded him in death on March 25, 2019.  He later married Flora A. (Claughton) Markward Smith on November 16, 2021 at Union Christian Church in Franklin, IN, she survives.

He was a United States Army Veteran.

Merrill was a 1953 graduate of Franklin High School and attended the agricultural short course at Purdue University.

He was a lifelong farmer in Johnson County.

Merrill was a member of Hopewell Presbyterian Church in Franklin, Union Village Masonic Lodge #545 in Providence where he served as Past Master and 50-year member and the Scottish Rite Valley of Indianapolis.

He was loyal to the Allis Chalmers line of farm equipment.  Merrill was a Grand National Champion of the 5000-pound class of the National Tractor Pullers Association and won the National Farm Machinery Tractor Pull in Louisville in 1980.  He was always engineering his farm machinery to his own use including connecting two Allis Chalmers "WD 45" tractors together.  Merrill also enjoyed golfing (shot two hole-in- ones), woodworking, wintering in Lake Wales, Florida and spending time with his family.

Survivors include his wife Flora A. (Claughton) Markward Smith of Franklin, IN, his sons Terry W. Smith (Jean) of Columbia City, IN, Duane D. Smith (Sherrell) of Noblesville, IN and Scott A. Smith (Linda) of Franklin, IN, his grandchildren Rachel Puls (Dan) of Indianapolis, IN, Stephanie Reed (Chad) of Louisville, KY, Mitchell Smith (Lori) of Columbia City, IN, Aaron Smith (Bronwen) of Noblesville, IN, Adrienne Noel (Alex) of Noblesville, IN, Chad Smith of Franklin, IN and Nicole Smith of Southport, IN, his great grandchildren Reese and Delaney Puls, Booker, Ledger and Pryor Reed, Mason and Maddie Straub, Zoe, Brady and Hank Noel, Declan and Parker Smith, and Hailee Rhodes (Josh): his great great grandchild Harper Burkhart, Flora's children Lisa Markward Howser (Mike-deceased) of Louisville, KY, Patricia Markward Speck of Louisville, KY and Dennis Markward of Brown County, IN, her five grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

He was preceded his death by his parents, wife, brothers Gerald Smith on December 16, 2022 and Deloris E. Smith on June 18, 2012.

Pastor Brandon Jolley will conduct a service on Friday, October 24, 2025 at 2:30 PM at Swartz Family Community Mortuary and Memorial, 300 South U.S. 31 (Morton Street) in Franklin, IN and will be live-streamed at www.swartzmortuary.com/obituary/merrillsmith.  Friends may call Friday, October 24, 2025 from 11AM until service time at the mortuary.

Burial with military honors will follow the service at Greenlawn Cemetery in Franklin, IN.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hopewell Presbyterian Church, 548 W 100 North, Franklin, IN 46131.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.swartzmortuary.com.  Information 317-738-0202.