News obit: Merritt Youngdeer, TV and radio journalist

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UPDATE: Here’s the official obituary of Merritt Youngdeer from Long House Funeral Home:

Merritt “Bub” Youngdeer Jr., 48, passed from his earthly home at 56 Youngdeer Mountain Rd. in Cherokee, NC to his eternal home with the Lord on July 10, 2014.
Merritt was born on July 11, 1965 at the PHS Indian Hospital in Rosebud, SD to Merritt Youngdeer Sr. and Lulie (Wilson) Youngdeer. He was an avid car buff and enjoyed buying and restoring vintage cars. He majored in Radio TV/Broadcasting at Brown Institute in Minneapolis, MN. He worked for Native America Calling, Cherokee Youth in Radio Programming and various Radio/TV stations in New Mexico, Oklahoma and North Carolina.
Merritt was a loving and caring person who had many friends and will be dearly missed, but for his brothers and sisters in Christ, we will see him again!

Click over to read the full obituary.

Original post July 12: Numerous unconfirmed social media references to the sudden death of Merritt Youngdeer were flying Friday, though I have yet to receive any confirmation. Youngdeer was a well known former radio and television reporter in Western North Carolina, having worked for WWNC and WLOS. He was the grandson of a former principal chief of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians, Merritt Youngdeer Sr.

Radio reporter Matt Mittan summed it up in a FB post:

Today has been a very difficult and shocking day for many of us in the radio, TV and print community across WNC. We have lost one of our own, and far too early. And while many questions are still unanswered tonight, let me tell you about Merritt Youngdeer. I had only begun getting re-acquainted with him over the past several months. We used to work together at Radio Ranch, long ago. We had kept in touch over the years but in recent months – and weeks – we started working on some exciting projects. 1) We were planning on him getting back into Asheville radio by first filling in for me while I visit my family in New England at the beginning of August. 2) We had talked, with great enthusiasm, about working together to build a WNC-wide Live Radio News Network. I was with him just recently and he was in the best shape and spirits I had seen him in years. Merritt had a wonderful energy of service toward others, a genuine passion for renewed radio journalism in our region and most of all, he seemed filled with hope and purpose. While I’m still in shock over this news, I am proud of the legacy he leaves and the lives he’s touched. May we forever hear his voice on the wind.

There’s no report from the Cherokee One Feather or other news outlets, as far as I can see. More details as I get them.

3 Comments

Tracy Hyorth July 12, 2014 - 10:38 pm

Merritt and I were friends, and I can confirm his passing. Cause is unknown at this time.

David Nipper May 6, 2015 - 8:02 am

Merritt and I were friends but we didn’t stay in touch. Now I wish we had. We used to talk about a book he was writing. He was so excited about it. I’ve just learned of his death and I’m shocked and greatly saddened. Was a cause of death ever determined?

weavervilleman July 12, 2014 - 9:43 pm

WLOS ran a piece of his death a few days ago

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