David J. Morrill

1924 - 2015

PENACOOK – David J. Morrill, 90, of Penacook, passed away Thursday, June 25, 2015, peacefully at his home "in the Bog" with his dog AJ by his side.

Born July 9, 1924, in Concord to the late John H. and Isabel Call Morrill. A year later he moved with his family to the farm at 31 Penacook St. in Penacook where he spent the rest of his life farming the land he loved. He was a 1942 graduate of Penacook High School.

A staunch Yankee farmer who believed a man's worth was measured by his word and his handshake. He was active in the Penacook community as a member of the Horace Chase Lodge, former Penacook Methodist Church, Penacook Historical Society and Christmas Santa with his Shetland ponies Prinny and Pebbles. Recognized for his contributions to agriculture as recipient of the NH Farm Bureau Profile Award in 1990, the Andrew Felker Memorial Award in 1993, the Pineconia Grange Agriculture Award in 2012, New England Green Pastures winner and Outstanding NH Young Farmer in l958. He served as a director of Concord and Weeks Dairy; a member of the Merrimack County Soil Conservation District, distributor for Northrup King/Standford Seeds and a member of the Granite State Draft Horse Association. For more than 40 years he was a director and past president of the Hopkinton State Fair and past president of NH Fairs Association, as well as a 4-H leader in Merrimack County.

Along with his wife, Edwina, whom he married in 1946, they successfully operated Morrill Farm and lovingly raised their family: Allyn and Joe Gilbert of Henniker and their sons, Tim and Aaron and Tim's sons, Owen and Henry; John B. (Jay) (deceased) and his son, Kirk and Jesse Morrill and their sons, Jason and David; Mary Ann Wareing of Deerfield and her family, Alden and Catherine Dill and their children, Charlotte and Emory; Karin and Andrew Allisandratos; and William Wareing; Rob and Sherri Morrill of Concord and their family, Andy and Christy Morrill and Ben; Kimberly and Mark Decker and Derek Morrill; Kevin Morrill and Ryan Morrill; Becky and Paul Colby of Pittsfield and their daughters Rachel and Megan; and Cindi and Rick Jaques of Penacook and their children Lucas and Jennifer Zalenski and Nicole, Hunter and Allison; Bethany and Ray Marier and their son, Johnathon; and Joe and Judy Jaques; and Lou Ann and Ed Darling of Laconia and their sons, Eian and Dan.

His extended family includes scores of international exchange students who called "The Farm" home and learned about American farm life under his guidance.

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his wife, Edwina in 2013, his son, Jay in 1995, his sister, Raymah Morrill Hoyt in 2010 and her husband, Douglas in 2012.

In addition to his children, David is survived by a lifelong friendship with Weldon and Geraldine Hoyt of Penacook.

Calling hours will be held Sunday, June 28, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Morrill Family Farm Museum at the Hopkinton State Fairgrounds, 392 Kearsarge Avenue, Contoocook,

Services will be held on Tuesday, June 30, at 1 p.m. at the United Church of Christ in Penacook, followed by internment at Woodlawn Cemetery in Penacook.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in David's memory to the 4-H Foundation of NH for Dairy, Moiles House, 180 Main Street, Durham, NH 03824, Hopkinton State Fair "Morrill Family Farm Museum Fund", 392 Kearsarge Avenue, Contoocook, NH 03229 or The Penacook Historical Society, 16 Penacook St, Penacook, NH 03303.

Assisting the family with arrangements is the Wendell J. Butt Funeral Home of Penacook.