Henry McNeil Merrill passed away on June 22, 2003, in Aptos at
age 97.
Henry McNeil Merrill passed away on June 22, 2003, in Aptos at age 97.
He was born Oct. 19, 1905, in Akron, Ohio. Mr. Merrill attended The Ashville School in North Carolina and graduated from the University of California with a degree in Electrical Engineering.
He worked for several companies throughout his career and invented numerous mechanisms and devices. He retired from Borroughs Corporation in 1966. He was an avid amateur radio operator and communicated with radio operators around the world for many years. In retirement he enjoyed reading, crossword puzzles, photography and bird watching.
The Merrill family was among the first settlers in Akron, Ohio, where they founded The Merrill Pottery Company. They were pioneers in the pottery industry in Ohio.
Mr. Merrill was preceded in death by his beloved wife of many years, Cleo Silvers Merrill; daughter, Emily Risher; sister, Gertrude Merrill Kendig; and brother, James Albert Merrill.
He is survived by son John Merrill of Ohio; son-in-law, Robert Risher; granddaughters, Dana Sutton (Tom), Robin Hays (Jody); great- granddaughters, Emily and Megan Sutton; great-grandsons, Sam and Ryan Hays, all of Texas; and many nieces and nephews.
He is also survived by stepdaughters Judy Scagliotti, Nancy Valencia (Steve), and Ramona Berman (Mel) of Gilroy; step-grandchildren; Debra Richards (Michael), Mark Filice (Nicole), Wendy Strametz (Jeff), Jeannie Filice-Hollar (Ryan), Brian and Erin Berman, all of Gilroy. Stephen Bonesio (Betty Jo) of Orland; Nanette Filice (Johnny Eller) of Soquel; step great-grandchildren, Lisa Bonesio of Corning; Sarah Amaral (Derrick) of Edwards Air Force Base; Peter Bonesio of Kingman, Ariz., Cori Pfeffer of New York, Kevin Pfeffer, Chelsea Richards, Jeremy and Cheyenne Strametz, Caitlin, Riley, and Joshua Filice-Hollar, Sommer and Siena Filice, all of Gilroy; step great-great- grandchildren; Robyn and Nicole Bonesio, Brant Lowe, Kameron and Ethan Amaral.
Private inurnment conducted by Habing Family Funeral Home.
