Merrion Neal Caroon

Merrion Neal Caroon “Tom Thumb”, 81, of Oriental, NC, was called home to be with the Lord & Savior on Monday morning, March 14, 2022, at CarolinaEast Medical Center in New Bern, NC.

Tom was born in Clinton, NC on May 3, 1940. His family moved back to Oriental when he was 6 years old. There he grew up, joined the U.S. Coast Guard at 17 and stayed for 5 years. While stationed at Hobucken, he met his wife of almost 58 years, Linda Lewis Caroon.

He worked as a meat cutter after getting out of the service. In 1969, he opened & operated Tom Thumb Seafood, Inc. where they picked crabs, and later built a fish fillet house that he operated as well. He never stayed idle, eventually building boat slips and turning his business into a marina and still is to this day. He was a Deacon of Oriental First Baptist Church, where he loved teaching the Bible. In addition, he was a member and past president of the Oriental Rotary Club, member and past Master of Oriental Masonic Lodge, member of the International Gideons and member and Past President of the N.C. Fisheries Association.

After retirement, he became a skilled woodworker. He made NC lighthouses to scale, ink pens, clocks, and small furniture items. He was a great handyman. He loved being with family and friends. He and his wife hosted Caroon Family reunions for over 40 years at their home in Oriental, where he was known for his famous barbeque pigs.

He is survived by his wife, Linda; three sons, Neal Caroon (Theresa), of Oriental, Craig Caroon (Cate), of Durham, and Clay Caroon (Christy) of Oriental; granddaughters, Haley Caroon and Raven C. Herring; and grandsons, Nathan Caroon, Mason Caroon, Cole Caroon, Cougar Caroon, and Bryce Dunham; one great-granddaughter Ariella; and two sisters, Hellen Hardison and Glenda O’Neal.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Saint Elmo and Beatrice Caroon and six brothers, S.E., Jim, Bob, Reg, Darrell, and Cash.

The family will receive friends and relatives from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 16 ^th at Bryant Funeral Home.

His funeral service will be held 11:00 a.m., Thursday, March 17 ^th at Oriental First Baptist Church with Rev. Mark Rogers and Rev. Jerry Harper officiating. Interment with military honors, will follow immediately in Oriental Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers the family suggested memorial contributions be made to Oriental First Baptist Church, PO Box 313, Oriental, NC 28571 or to The Gideons International, PO Box 37, Bayboro, NC 28515, or the charity of your choice.

The family wished to thank the doctors and nurses at CarolinaEast Medical Center.