Woodstock, Vermont

At long last reunited with "the girl" in the yellow knit dress" (aka Lorrie, his wife of 59 years, W. Dean Merrill moved on to greener pastures on Thursday, October 12, 2017.

He was born in Mena, Arkansas on March 1st, 1926 son of Chauncey Dean and Victoria Ernestine (Austin) Merrill. Just six weeks later his folks moved to New England where he spent most of his childhood. Dean signed up with the Marines 6 days after his 17th birthday so as to get his piece of the war. Dean proudly did his time in the western Pacific and returned to New England and graduated from Dartmouth College, Class of '49. Soon after graduation Dean was drawn back to the Marine Corps and served another 21 years, retiring in 1967 as a Lieutenant Colonel. After retirement he again returned to New England, specifically Enfield Center, New Hampshire with his wife and 3 kids. After several months of searching he became the Project Manager for the construction of the new Woodstock Inn. Upon completion he served as Director of Properties for Rock Resorts until his second retirement in 1991 after 23 years. Concurrent with his Rock Resorts years saw the fruition of his dream to be a farmer. "Felicity Farm" became a business as well as a home. Initially he raised Herefords, then Angus cattle and finally registered Red Angus with his son and partner Frederic Dean. The business was a primal love and nurtured his sense of spirit and love for nature's gifts. Some of those red angus still dot the hillside today. Only fitting. Over the years Felicity Farm hosted a wonderful menagerie of farm critters to include bovines, horses – both saddle and draft, pigs, chickens, a burro and a goat or two. He had a real soft spot for 4 legged critters. Also mandatory for Dean were dogs. Probably owned 9, all dachshunds. Loved the bajudice out of every one of 'em.

After Dean's second "retirement" – tho I hesitate to use that particular word, Dean was perhaps busier with many activities near and dear to his heart. To list but a few, he was a member and officer of the Woodstock Rotary Club, a founder of the UVM Extension Service Advisory Board of the Vermont Beef Industry Council and chairman for 11 years, the Vermont delegate to the Beef Council of the National Meat Board and its successor, the National Cattleman's Beef Association for 14 years, the VT delegate to the American Angus Association in Louisville, KY for 7 years and was elected to the Vermont Agriculture Hall of Fame in 2008. In addition he served 2 terms as a justice of the peace, a member of the Conservation Committee, and the Capital Budget Committee in Woodstock, was a member of the board at The Mertens House and a trustee at the Norman Williams Library. In addition he was vice president and chairman of the multimillion dollar renovation and expansion library project. Dean was also vitally involved with his Dartmouth class, and his church – Our Savior Lutheran Church in Hanover, NH, and countless Marine comrades.


Dean and Lorrie loved to travel and made an annual domestic excursion curiously timed during mud season each year until 2009. A highlight was a UVM sponsored Ag trip to the Soviet Union and to China. Dean loved pie. And cookies and critters, the great outdoors, his wife and his children and family, and doing the right thing the right way. He was honest to a fault and a believer in God. He was also feisty and downright ornery sometimes. Ticked me off more than once. Probably ticked a lot of people off more than once. But he had a sly way of seeking forgiveness and apologizing to make things right once again. He could make a joke. He could take a joke. Possessing immeasurable integrity, Dean Merrill was an honest, hard working man.

Dean was predeceased by his wife Lorrie, his brother Will and his sister Lucile Birch. He is survived by his daughter Janet Duefield and husband Fred, his daughter Laurel Merrill and son Frederic Dean Merrill and his wife Nancy. His grandchildren Lisa Mary Green, Jeffrey Gerhart and husband Lee Stillings, Joshua Duefield, Morgan Dean Merrill and wife Holly, Kristin Merrill Snow and husband Phil, and step granddaughter Paige Merrill Ellis and husband Steve. Great grandchildren include Cameron Green, Molly and Madison Merrill, Finley Snow, and Cooper and Olivia Ellis. Bringing up the rear is great, great granddaughter Eva Jane Green. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

Dean and Lorrie had a favorite saying with multi applications, so with it, we bid farewell and adieu with "Onward and Upward" Dean, rejoin that pretty girl in the yellow dress and rest in peace forever.

A celebration of his life will be held at Our Savior Lutheran Church, Hanover, NH Saturday, Oct. 21 at 2 pm with a reception there to follow.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a charity of one's choice. The Cabot Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. An on line guest book can be found at cabotfh.com