Stephen J. Merrill, age 47, known as Herka to his many friends and family, died unexpectedly on Wednesday July 28, 2004 at Frisbie Memorial Hospital in Rochester, NH.
Born and raised in Portsmouth, NH, he was a graduate of Portsmouth High School, Class of 1975. He moved to Farmington, NH after his marriage to Jean Gilman in 1987, they have three children together: Allison, 16, Christopher, 13 and Conor, 11.
Stephen owned and operated S.J. Merrill Company, an excavation firm, but his main focus was his family. He was actively involved with his wife and children in many sporting and outdoor activities, including hockey, skiing, snowmobiling, swimming and boating. The family also enjoyed traveling together and has many wonderful memories of those times.
In addition to his wife and children, Mr. Merrill leaves his mother, Mary Merrill, of Kittery, Maine, three sisters, Lisa Brown of Barrington, NH, Sharon Hollis of Kittery, Maine and Dena Kenny of Hampton, NH. He also leaves his mother in law, Pauline Gilman of Farmington, sister in law, Shelly Gagnon of Rochester, two brothers in law, Steven Gilman of Salt Lake City, Utah and Timothy Gilman of Washington, D.C., two nieces and one nephew.
There will be a remembrance of Mr. Merrill's life at 1:00 pm on Saturday July 31 at the family home, 149 Main Street, Farmington, NH, family and friends are welcome to attend. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Merrill Children Memorial Fund at Bank of New Hampshire, 4 Central Street, Farmington, NH 03835. Arrangements are in the care of Peaslee Funeral Home 24 Central St. Farmington, NH 03835. To express condolences, please visit: www.peasleefuneralhome.com
