BANGOR – Dorothy “Dee” P. Merrill, 76, passed away unexpectedly Saturday, Nov. 22, 2008, surrounded by her loving family. She was born Dec. 27, 1931, in Munhall, Pa., the daughter of Frank Sr. and Pearl (Patrick) Fekety. Dee, who was always proud of her Hungarian roots, was raised in Pennsylvania and later joined the Woman’s Army Corps as a nurse and was stationed in Salisbury, Austria. It was Camp Kelmer, New Brunswick, N.J., where she met and married her husband of 54 years, Eugene A. Merrill of Bangor. They had a simple ceremony Oct. 16, 1954. Almost a year later, their only child, a daughter, Sharon (Merrill) Watters was born. Dee loved to travel and went all over the world with her husband. She always said her favorite vacation was taking her great-grandson, Bailey, for his first trip to Disney World. Dee loved to cook and Bailey loved to help her! She called him her “little souse chef.” The two were very close, at times inseparable; he was definitely the sparkle in her eye. Dee was a member of the Bangor VFW Post 1761. She also enjoyed shopping, crafts, knitting, crocheting and was an avid Red Sox fan and was proud to have witnessed their championship pennants. She was a Girl Scouts leader for eight years with her best friend, Jessie Walls. Dee was considered by many as their “gram” and will be fondly remembered for her generosity. She is survived and will be sadly missed by her husband, Eugene of Bangor; daughter, Sharon J. Watters and her husband, Dan; granddaughter, Erin E. Watters, all of Holden; grandson, Ryan A. Watters of Brewer; great-grandson, Bailey A. Chretien of Holden; mother-in-law, Rita Merrill of Old Town; nephew, Ron Dunham of Lincoln; nephew, Scott Dunham of Winterport; niece, Pam Astbury of Blue Hill; nephew, Brian Fekety of Palm Harbor, Fla.; niece, Marcia Arndt of Spring Hill, Fla.; nephew, Bill Fekety of Dunedin, Fla.; niece, Mary Fekety of Florida; niece, Donna Fekety of Clairton, Pa.; nephew, William E. Fekety Jr. of Clairton; sister-in-law, Carline Dunham of Winterport; best friend, Jessie Walls of Bangor; and Dee’s special dog, Bear. In addition to her parents she was predeceased by two brothers, Frank Fekety Jr. and William E. Fekety Sr.; sister, Joann Mary Tess; father-in-law, Percy Merrill; special aunt, Bertha Kacmarik; and childhood friend, Mildred Prest. At her request, a private graveside service will be held 1 p.m. Wednesday at Pine Grove Cemetery, Bangor, with the Rev. Clayton Blackstone officiating. Those who wish to remember Dee in a special way may make gifts in her memory to Bangor Humane Society, 693 Mount Hope Ave., Bangor, ME 04401 or to a charity of ones choice. A service of Brookings-Smith, 133 Center St., Bangor, where condolences to the family may be expressed at www.BrookingsSmith.com.
DOROTHY ‘DEE’ MERRILL
