Merton B. Sowerby, age 94, passed away at Clark Retirement Community, Grand Rapids, MI on July 30, 2014. He was born in Hastings, MI and grew up near Greenville, MI. Mr. Sowerby was internationally recognized for his expertise as a classifier and judge of dairy cattle. His prowess as a dairy herd manager and showman for farms near Ann Arbor, MI, Beaufort, SC, and Princeton, NJ earned him the prestigious Kussendorf Award. For his overall work in the dairy industry, he was honored as a Pioneer of the Dairy Shrine. He also lived in Warrenton, VA before returning to Michigan. He was preceded in death by Frances, his wife of 53 years. He is survived by son Roger (Sherry) of Concord, OH; and daughter, Mary (Glen Urban), of Rockwood, TN; grandchildren Mark (Lana) Sowerby of Mentor, OH; Stacia Sowerby of Washington, D.C.; and great-granddaughter, Tatyana. A memorial service will be held at Clark Retirement Community Chapel, 1551 Franklin St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI at 2:00 PM on Saturday, September 20. In lieu of flowers, donations are requested for the National Dairy Shrine Scholarship Fund 8.5.2014