Obituary of Jude Merchant

Jude Patrick Merchant, born March 24, 1968 passed away in his home in Jamestown on the morning of February 19, 2025, at the age of 56 Jude was the fourth child born to Anne and Tony Merchant in Gibraltar, MI in the turbulent year of 1968. The family soon returned to Jamestown and bought a modest house on the northside where Jude attended Euclid Avenue Grammar School, Washington Junior High and JHS (attending Westfield Academy and Central School 1976-1980). He enlisted and served in the U.S. Army after high school and was stationed in Stuttgart, Germany. Following his military service, Jude worked at Cummins Jamestown Engine Plant for many years until an industrial accident in 2003 left him disabled. Jude endured two decades of unceasing physical pain with immense stubborn strength and singular dark humor. He found great solace in spending time in nature and was an accomplished photographer, videographer and drone pilot. His aerial films and photographs of the forests, meadows, marshlands, waterfalls, and lakeshores of Chautauqua County brought him his greatest pleasure. He was passionate about music, he loved carpentry, bonfires, and exploring the wilds of Allegany National Forest. Jude was a bighearted man who loved his family and his friends—they will all miss him terribly. Jude was preceded in death by both his parents, Anthony Merchant Jr. and Anne Merchant. ¬He is survived by his step-mother Joyce Merchant, his son, Anthony Merchant Jr., his brother and sisters: Bernadette Merchant (Edward Greer), Christopher Merchant, (Tina Michos) and Natalie Merchant, his step-siblings: Jay Randall Martin and Deborah Garcia, his nieces: Karen Ahlgren, Ashley Juul (Ben, Reilly & Silas), Ellen Merchant, Abigail Merchant and Lucía de la Calle, his aunt Marianne Whitcomb, (uncle Mike Whitcomb) and his aunt Wendy Meyer. A celebration of Jude’s life will be held Saturday March, 01 from 12pm-3pm at Riccardi’s Hubert Funeral Home, 111 South Main Street, Jamestown, NY 14701. The family requests that donations be made in his memory to: Chautauqua County Humane Society 2825 Strunk Road Jamestown, NY 14701 Send a condolence by visiting www.hubertfuneralhome.com