Bryce Weldon Morrill

NORTHFIELD, N.H., - Bryce Weldon Morrill, 53, died suddenly while cycling, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2008, near his home in Northfield, N.H. Born in Lebanon, N.H. on Oct. 25, 1954, the son of F. Bartlett Morrill of Bradford and Meryl E. (Pope) Morrill, formerly of Ayers Cliff, Quebec. He attended Bradford schools and graduated from Oxbow High School in 1972 as part of their first class. He attended Wentworth Institute in Boston, graduating in 1974 with a degree in architectural drafting, and came back to Bradford to work with his father at Gove & Morrill Hardware, taking over the business in 1976, at the age of 22 when his father passed away suddenly. A third generation owner of the store, Bryce was active in the Bradford Merchant's Association, advocating for the merger of the town and village, and specializing in friendly customer service, and well-known for his sense of humor. After the business closed in 1988, he was self-employed as an architectural/ mechanical draftsman, and most recently worked as a locate technician for On Target Utility Services in the Concord, N.H. area.

Bryce was a community activist, and one of his proudest achievements was spearheading the successful restoration of the Bradford Academy building in the 1990's. He was a former member and past president of the Woodsville-Wells River Rotary Club where he was honored as a Paul Harris Fellow recipient, and later served as president of the former River Valley Rotary Club of Bradford. He volunteered for Operation Santa Claus organizing deliveries, and he participated in the building of Elizabeth's Park in 1992. Bryce had a love of music, spending his high school years playing guitar for a rock group, Leviathan, and singing barbershop with the Upper Valley Chapter of SPEBSQA as a young adult. He was an avid cyclist, participating several times in RAGBRAI and other cycling events that benefited Type I diabetes, a disease he'd lived with since the age of 19. He spent summer vacations in Forest City, New Brunswick at the family camp, returning just recently from a visit there, accompanied by his son.

Bryce is survived by his son, Barrett D. Morrill of Brooklyn, N.Y., a daughter, Lisa A. Morrill of Ashland, Ore., a brother, Lee T. Morrill of New London, N.H., nieces and nephews, and companion Rosanne Buck of Northfield, N.H. He was predeceased by his father in 1976, his mother in 2006 and his sister, Joy E. Morrill of Concord, N.H., in 1993.

A celebration of Bryce's life will be held at Bradford Academy, Main Street, Bradford VT, on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2008, at 2 p.m. conducted by family friend, Rev. Dr. John Shimer from Rowley, Mass. In lieu of flowers, donations, in Bryce's name, can be sent to the American Diabetes Association, 1 Kennedy Drive, Suite L8, South Burlington, VT 05403.