John "Mort" MERRELL

MERRELL, John "Mort"
John "Mort" Merrell, 71, of Suffield, died peacefully on Sunday, (April 1, 2012), at Hartford Hospital, surrounded by his family. He was born on May 18, 1940, in Springfield, MA, son of the late John and Norma (Spaulding) Merrell. Mort was a lifelong resident of Suffield and a graduate of Suffield High School with the Class of 1958. He served our country during the Vietnam War with the U.S. Air Force. Mort worked as a gun assembler for Smith & Wesson for many years, before retiring in 1994. He was an avid NASCAR fan and had been involved in racing most of his life. In his younger years he worked in the pits at Riverside Speedway and was part owner of a stock car. Mort enjoyed traveling to Daytona and New Hampshire for auto racing. A man of many friends and will be remembered for his kind, caring and thoughtful ways. He leaves his brother, Art Merrell and his wife Julie of Suffield, his sisters, Diane Lapent and her husband Scott of Granby, Holly Merrell of Suffield and Helen Bushnell and her husband Rob of Broad Brook; two nephews, four nieces; two grandnieces; aunts, uncles, dear friends and the Crocker family who adopted Mort as their own.
His family will receive friends on Friday, April 6, 2012, from 4-7 p.m., at the Nicholson & Carmon Funeral Home, 443 East St. North, (Rt. 159) Suffield. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, April 7, 2012, 10 a.m. at the Nicholson & Carmon Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery in Suffield. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Suffield Ambulance Association, P.O. Box 642 Suffield, CT 06078 and or Suffield Emergency Aid Association, 450 South St. Suffield, CT 06078. Please visit us at www.carmonfuneralhome.com for online condolences.