BANGOR – Rita M. (Colson) Merrill, 99, passed away peacefully Nov. 10, 2009. She was born Dec. 22, 1909, in Searsport, daughter of Henry and Eliza (Clement) Colson. Rita graduated in 1928 from Crosby High School, Belfast. She later married the late Percy Merrill, March 31, 1931, in Abbot. Together they had two children, Eugene and Carline. Rita was a homemaker who took care of their children while her husband owned and operated Bangor Tire Co. Rita was an avid hunter and fisherman in her younger years, alongside her husband. They spent a lot of time at their camp on Holbrook Pond. Later in life, she enjoyed traveling, bus tours with friends, knitting and doing her crossword puzzle books. Rita is survived by her son, Eugene Merrill of Bangor; daughter, Carline Dunham of Winterport; seven grandchildren, Pamela (Dunham) and husband, Glen Astbury, Sharon (Merrill) Watters and husband, Dan, Ronald Dunham and wife, Tammy, Scott Dunham and wife, Ann, Cody and Adam Field and Elizabeth Lemieux and husband, Patrick; six great-grandchildren, Erin Watters, Jessica (Astbury) Hutchins and husband, Luke, Ryan Watters, Kevin Dunham and partner, Bethany, Anthony Dunham and Joshua Dunham; great-great-grandchildren, Bailey Chretien, Brady Hutchins, Natalie and Liam Dunham; niece, Carol Larochelle; and nephew, Albert Sherman. She was predeceased by her parents, husband; sister, Leah (Colson) Sherman; son-in-law, Robert Dunham; and daughter-in-law, Dorothy (Fekety) Merrill. The family expresses their thanks to Jin Roy and all her staff at Young’s Home, Old Town. Jin took exceptional care of Rita during the past several years, and made her and the family feel like one of her own. Rita will be buried in the Merrill family plot, next to her husband, Percy; and daughter-in-law, Dorothy, at Pine Grove Cemetery, Bangor. A graveside service will be held 2:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13, at Pine Grove Cemetery with the Rev. Clayton Blackstone officiating. Those who wish to remember Rita in a special way may make gifts in her memory to Bangor Humane Society, 693B Mount Hope Ave., Bangor, ME 04401 or a charity of one’s choice. A service of Brookings-Smith, Bangor. Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.BrookingsSmith.com.
RITA M. MERRILL
