Elizabeth Merrill

1928 - 2024

Elizabeth (Lisa) Merrill

Northampton , MA - Lisa died peacefully in Hospice, attended by family, her longtime caregivers, and the wonderful staff at Linda Manor Assisted Living in Northampton, MA on April 15, 2024 at age 95.

Lisa was born in Providence, RI to Elizabeth Huntington Dyer and Randolph Harrison Dyer. She grew up in St. Louis, MO where she attended the John Burroughs School. Her family spent summers in Heath, MA. She attended Bennington College, graduating in 1950. She then moved to New York City and began working at the Hudson Review, a literary publication. She met and married Theodore Merrill (Ted) in 1952. They lived in Greenwich Village until 1959 when they built a home and moved to Piermont, NY. Lisa worked at the Hudson Review until the birth of her third child.

Lisa was active in civic affairs in Piermont. She instigated the reopening of the Piermont Public Library, started a newsletter, and convinced Continental Can Company, the local factory, to stop blowing its loud shift change whistle at midnight every night because it gave her son nightmares. She was dedicated to exposing children to folk music and often loaded her VW microbus with neighboring children to attend Pete Seeger concerts. After her youngest child started elementary school, Lisa became an editor at Poets & Writers, a literary clearinghouse for authors. She was the managing editor of their monthly publication highlighting literary events and opportunities. She worked there until her retirement, befriending many notable and iconic writers and poets.

Lisa retired in 1988 when she and her husband moved onto their 44-foot sailboat for 5 years. They sailed in the Bahamas and Caribbean in the winter and New England waters in the summer.

Lisa and Ted then moved to Shelburne Falls, MA. Lisa became very involved with the public library and historical society. Continuing her lifelong love of reading, she and Ted joined a book group with friends from Heath. They were active and valued members of the group even after they moved to Loomis Village Retirement Community in South Hadley. They moved to Linda Manor Assisted Living in Northampton in September, 2021. In September, 2023 Lisa moved into the Memory Unit at Linda Manor.

Lisa is survived by her 4 children: Chouteau Levine (Bill) of Northampton, MA; Nathaniel Merrill of North Bergen, NJ; Sarah Martin (Clayton) of Morristown, FL; Arria Merrill of Lummi Island, WA; 5 grandchildren and one step grandchild; 6 great grandchildren and 6 step great grandchildren; her sister, Clarissa Gordon and 5 nieces and nephews.

Lisa loved gardening, reading, writing letters, caring for her many pets over the years, sewing, art, water, nature, yoga and chocolate. She was a proud liberal. She taught her children and grandchildren an appreciation for these things. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Shelburne Falls Historical Society or the Heath Public Library.

A memorial will take place in Heath in July