Gary Merrill
Gary Merrill

Obituary of Gary K. Merrill

Gary K. Merrill died of cancer on May 13, 2014 at home in Tumwater, Washington. He was born May 29, 1959 to Hazen K. and Betty Marie (Goad) Merrill in Denver, Colorado. Gary grew up in Denver and, as a teenager, he worked for a floral company, delivering plants and flowers to commercial customers. After high school, his best friend’s father started an electrical contracting business and asked Gary to go to work for him as an apprentice. After four years of electrician school and apprenticeship, he became a journeyman electrician and worked up to supervising commercial jobs. He worked for Capital Electric for nearly 20 years, retiring on disability when a degenerative eye disease caused him to become too blind to work. Gary married Laura E. Jeffers on June 28, 1986 in Denver, where they lived until 1998. With his wife and young daughters, Madelaine and Kathryn, he moved to Newport, Washington, where they lived until 2012. Wherever he went, Gary was loved and respected. Hardworking, loyal, and optimistic, Gary never let his blindness stop him from doing what he loved. In Newport, he worked on Habitat for Humanity houses and volunteered with the Chamber of Commerce. He also helped reroof the Baptist Church in Newport. He got on the top of the two story metal roof, much to everyone’s dismay. He said it wasn’t a problem. He knew how many steps it was to the edge. Another time, when shoveling snow off his own house, he slipped and slid off onto a big pile of snow he’d already shoveled. He laughed, brushed off and got back on the roof. He also rode a tandem bicycle with his wife or daughters and worked on landscaping his yard. In addition, he helped his in-laws on their ranch, putting up fences and bucking hay. Gary was active in church, helping with maintenance, and he went on several trips with the missionary organization, Forward Edge, to rebuild and repair homes in Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina, then to serve at an orphanage in Nicaragua, where he helped distribute eyeglasses. He was a living testimony of how God can use anyone, no matter his or her handicap or circumstances. Recently, Gary was a member of New Bridge Community Church In 2013, Gary attended the Orientation and Training Center (OTC), a resident training school for the blind, in Seattle, Washington. He learned many skills, including the mobility to independently travel from Olympia to Seattle and around the city. He was skilled with power tools and had plans to begin woodworking, making occasional tables. Gary had a strong faith. God has called him home to a new purpose for eternity. His sight is restored, and now he can see his Savior face to face. He is survived by his wife, Laura E. Merrill, and daughters, Madelaine and Kathryn of Tumwater; parents, Hazen and Betty Merrill of Denver, Colorado; and sisters, Debra (Don) Ingebrigtsen of Sedalia, Colorado, and Nancy (Tom) Cook of Tomball, Texas. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent to Forward Edge for Nicaragua (or where their need is greatest) at http://www.forwardedge.org/donation/donate.php. Please leave memories of Gary or condolences for his family in the Guestbook below.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Gary Merrill, please visit Tribute Store
A Memorial Tree was planted for Gary
We are deeply sorry for your loss ~ the staff at Funeral Alternatives Of Washington
Share Your Memory of
Gary