Shirley M. Merrill, 77, of Derry, NH, died Tuesday, August 22, 2006 in the Frisbee Memorial Hospital, Rochester, NH. Mrs. Merrill was born in E. Derry, NH on August 28, 1928, a daughter of the late James N. and Doris (Moody) Abbott. She had been a life long Derry resident and was a Pinkerton Academy graduate, Class of 1946. She worked as a cake decorator for Home Food Kitchen in Derry for many years. Shirley also worked for Mack's Apple Orchard in Londonderry, NH for many years. She enjoyed gardening, sewing, bowling and sports of all kinds.
She is survived by six children, James N. Merrill of Edgewood, NM, Michael H. Merrill of Canby, OR, Donna M. Tracy of Deerfield, NH, Debbie M. Porter of Manchester, Richard P. Merrill of Derry, Jeffrey A. Merrill of Deerfield, ten grandchildren, two great grandchildren, a sister, Doris Sutton of Nashua, NH, and also by nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband Richard H. Merrill on November 12, 2003 and by her brother Millard Abbott.
Calling hours were on Friday, August 25, 2006 from 4-8 pm in the Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 15 Birch Street, Derry. Funeral services were held Saturday at 10:00am in the funeral home. Burial was in the Pleasant View Cemetery, Londonderry, NH. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to The Inn at Deerfield, 34 Ridge Rd., Deerfield, NH 03037 or to Seacoast Hospice, 642 Central Ave., Dover, NH 03820.