PARSONSFIELD - Merrill Tyson "Fred" Dunnells, 103 years of age, of Parsonsfield died on October 15, 2019 at Gosnell Memorial Hospice House in Scarborough after a brief illness. He was born in Parsonsfield on May 19, 1916 a son of Fred and Blythe (Merrill) Dunnells and attended Parsonsfield schools including Par-Sem. He married Sylvia (Clark) on May 29, 1937 just after he turned 21 years old.
Always enjoying working with his hands, Merrill had been involved in lumbering and farming as a young man. During World War II Merrill worked for the South Portland Shipyard and learned welding, a skill that would come in very handy later on as an auto mechanic. He was always a hard worker and worked for Myron Lord in his apple orchard and later as a mechanic for A. Lyall Stewart at the original Rowe Ford which was in Cornish. He also worked for Manuel Stacey as a plow repairman. He also owned and operated his own car and truck repair shop in Cornish. He was known for his ability to fix anything.
Merrill enjoyed hunting and fishing. He got his deer most every hunting season, his last a 7 point buck at age 84. He decided he would rather feed the deer than hunt them after that. He loved feeding the birds as well as many other animals. He also enjoyed bowling, golf and going to the horse races in his spare time. He took pride in taking care of his lawn, mowing his own as well as neighbors lawns right up until last summer. Merrill even continued to drive until the age of 102. He was still living at home as he wished right up until this illness struck a couple of weeks ago.
Besides his parents, he is predeceased by his wife of 67 years, Sylvia Dunnells who died in 2004. Also 4 brothers: Charles Rolfe, Leland Kendrick Dunnells, George Dunnells and Paul Dunnells. 2 sisters, Pauline Guptill and Thelma Guptill. And an infant son, Ralph Clifton Dunnells.
Surviving are his 3 daughters: Merrillyn Stanley of Parsonsfield, June Ferland of Parsonsfield, and Ramona Smith and husband Steven of Cornish. Also 10 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren, 2 great-great grandchildren as well as several nieces and nephews.
The family would like to give special thanks to Ken Hamilton, Cheryl Gilliam and Derrick "Bo" Dunnells for their compassion and dedication to Merrill.
At his request, a simple graveside service will be on Sunday, October 20, at 1 p.m. at the Riverside Cemetery in Cornish, where he will be laid to rest next to his beloved wife. Poitras, Neal & York Funeral Home is respectfully handling the arrangements. Online condolences may be expressed at www.mainefuneral.com
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Friends of Par-Sem, PO Box 163, Parsonsfield, ME 04047 or Harvest Hills Animal Shelter, 1389 Bridgton Rd, Fryeburg, ME 04037.