AVON, Conn. – Margaret (Dunton) Crane Merritt, 88, of Simsbury, Conn., and formerly of Avon, Conn., died peacefully, Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2006, surrounded by her family at McLean Home, Simsbury, Conn., after a five-year battle with Alzheimer’s. Born Oct. 7, 1918, in Bar Harbor, she was the daughter of the late George and Rebecca (Gilley) Dunton. Margaret graduated from Rockland High School, in 1936, where she was a member of the honor society and was very active in drama productions, as well as being the piano accompanist for all the school musical events. In 1936, she married Robert Crane with whom she had four children. She married Charles Merritt in 1981; he died in 1990. She is survived by those four children, Rebecca and her husband, John Rafferty, of East Granby, Conn., Robert and his wife, Kathy Crane, of Calabash, N.C., Dunton Crane of Raleigh, N.C., and the Rev. Canon Margaret Crane of Bellows Falls, Vt.; three stepchildren, Fred and his wife, Christine Merritt, of Medway, Mary Lou and her husband, James Moulton, of Bowdoin and Robert and his wife, Peggy Merritt, of Clifton; many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brother, Robert and his wife, Dorothy Dunton. Family and friends will remember her for her gifts of hospitality and music. A gathering of remembrance will be held 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 5, at the home of John and Rebecca Rafferty, 3 Washington Ridge Road, East Granby, Conn. A memorial service will be held next summer, in Rockland, with burial at Brookside Cemetery, Somes Sound. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the donor’s choice of local Hospice or Alzheimer’s Association Chapter. Carmon Funeral Home & Family Center of Avon, Conn., is assisting the family with arrangements.
MARGARET D. MERRITT
