December 3, 1933 – June 29, 2017 Dr. Morton Donald Merchey, 83, a resident of Los Angeles, passed away in his home with his wife, Suzanne Higginbotham. Mort was born in Rochester, New York, and attended college and medical school at Ohio State University; he was the president of his fraternity. He relocated to Southern California as a resident in Gastrointestinal Surgery at Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles. Later, he transitioned into Family Practice where he became a physician in charge of eight Kaiser clinics, including his own in East Los Angeles. He married Ruth Lester in 1972, with whom he had two children, Jason Aaron and Kelly Leigh. Mort was a reserve member of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for many years, earning the rank of Captain. Mort and Ruth divorced in 1990 and he later married Suzanne in 1996. He was a stepdad to her three children, Aimee, Debbie and David. Early in his life, Mort was the life of the party, known for his sense of humor and quick wit. He loved sports of all kinds and enjoyed collecting various things, ranging from orchids to stamps and even to animals. He is survived by his wife, two children, three stepchildren and ten grandchildren. There will be a memorial service at 11:30am on Sunday, July 2 at Mount Sinai Memorial Park in the Hollywood Hills