Charles Everett Merrill, Sr. Obituary (1919

Waterville Charles Everett Merrill, Sr., 87 died Dec. 12, 2006 at Oak Grove Living & Rehab Ctr. in Waterville. He was born in Wilton, N.H. Sept. 5, 1919, the son of Charles O. And Ruth E. Pritchard Merrill. He was educated in Newport, ME. school system graduating in 1938; Arnold College B.S. Degree in Physical Education; Recreation graduate work U.M.O.; So. Conn. College; Gorham Military School U.S. Navy and Army National Guard. His experiences included instructor of Physical Education at Yale University for three years; Rehabilitation Program in the U.S. Navy for two years; classroom teacher and coach at Madison, CT. and Clinton, ME.one year each; Physical Ed. instructor, coach and athletic director four years at Williams High School in Oakland, ME. He initiated football after 22 years lapse of time. He also coached baseball and basketball. He resigned in 1950 to accept Underwriting position with Mutual Life on N.Y., returned to the education field in 1954 accepting a teaching and coaching position at Waterville High School. Taught Driver Education for four years and physical education for 20 years. He coached baseball, basketball and instituted and coached the gymnastic teams. He also coached football and soccer. One of the founders of ME. Gymnastic Coaches and Officals Assoc. served two terms as President, nine years as Secretary/Treasurer, eight years as liaison between State Gymnastic Assoc. boys and State Principal Assoc. He worked many summer vacations with Employment Service, Skowhegan office, and for the Dept. of Health & Welfare as a Health Inspector. His memberships included ME. Teachers Assoc.; ME Assoc. Health Physical Educ., Recreation Pres. two terms, Exec. board six years, Honor Award 1979 AAHPER Site Committee three years; National Assoc. Gymnastic Umpires Assoc. Pres. one term; Served 1977-81 National Federation State high School Assoc. Rules Committee Boys Gumnastics; Past member Masonic Lodge of Waterville; BPOE Lodge Waterville; American Post, Waterville; Retired in 1979 from Education with 35 years service and from ME Army National Guard with 27 years service; member AARP; Past President of PTA in both Oakland as a teacher and Waterville as a parent. He was Past Commander of the American Legion Post #5 1988 to 1990. In 1941 he married the former Marie E. Lawler. He was prececeased by his parents; his wife in 1998; daugher, Margarite Simpson in 1995; a son, Nathan; brother, Nathan Merrill. He is survived by his son Charles E. Merrill Jr. and wife Anne of Waterville; son, Daniel G. Merrill and wife Joanie of O.K. City, O.K.; son-in-law, David Simpson of China, ME. and his good friend, Cathy Marshall; grandchildren, Shawn and wife Nadene Simpson of Sidney, Kevin and Kim Simpson of Oakland, Loriann Martin of Clinton, Tina Dumais of Waterville, Dee Dee Michael of Tempe, AZ., Tessa Gonzales and Emilio of Del City, OK.; great-grandchildren, Ashley, Rachel, and Brandon Dumais of Waterville, Samantha and Taylor Martin of Clinton, Amanda and Jarred Simpson of Sidney, Dean Simpson of Oakland, Mariah Gonzales of O.K., and Makayla Groom of Tempe, AZ. The family wants to thank Dr. Miller and the nursing staff at MaineGeneral Medical Center and the nursing staff at Oak Grove Living and Rehab. Ctr. for all the help they gave them. The American Legion Post #5 Bourque-Lanigan will conduct a wake service at 7:15 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 14th at Gallant Funeral Home, 10 Elm St., Waterville.Visiting hours will also be held from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15th at the funeral home. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Sat., Dec. 16th at Gallant Funeral Home, 10 Elm St., Waterville with Deacon Dean Lachance officiating. Burial will be in the springtime in Riverside Cemetery in Newport.