Gift of God, Reta Jeanne Williams Merrill went home to her Creator on July 7, 2016. The only daughter of Elise Addor and Roger A. Williams, she was born in Brookfield, NY on January 17, 1930. Her resilience was evident throughout her life, overcoming rheumatic fever as a child, surviving cancer before she was 40, and living with dignity despite developing Parkinson’s in recent years.
All who knew her were touched by her warmth, grace and unfailing positive attitude. Even in her last days, she smiled easily, taking delight in the smallest things, photos of her great-grandchildren, a familiar song or a loving touch.
Much of her childhood she lived on a small farm with her dad and aunts, who taught her patience, generosity, resourcefulness and creativity despite their meager finances. These qualities served her well as the mom of three children before she was 27, and as a professional seamstress and teacher.
She was unable to live with her mother full time during World War II because of her mother’s work constraints, but in high school, she moved to Rome, NY and happily shared an apartment with her mother, a nurse, who nurtured the optimism, gratitude, kindness and integrity that Reta maintained her whole life. She spoke frequently of these fun times with her mom, during which she cultivated a lifelong enjoyment of singing, dancing, and musical theater. She was an active youth member of the Seventh Day Baptist Church of Verona, deepening her faith by participating in many service projects and worship opportunities with her mom.
She studied speech at Emerson College in Boston, MA for three years, leaving after her junior year to marry her sweetheart, Tom, in September 1951. Although they had lived in the same small village as children, it was Reta’s invitation to a church picnic at a nearby lake, and her natural beauty enhanced by a new red bathing suit, that started their 67 year romance.
Reta lived in Norwich, NY for 60 years, raising her children, and working, first as a private seamstress and then as an English teacher, and volunteering after retirement. As a mom, she instilled the values of her upbringing, integrity, kindness and creativity in her children. She passed on her proficiency in writing and speaking by reading to them, coaching their oral presentations, and editing countless of their essays. She encouraged each of her children to discover their unique abilities and pursue them, eventually celebrating their later achievements in architecture, art education and ministry. Committed to being an at home mom for her young children, she developed a clientele as a private seamstress. She designed, and constructed clothes for women, including several wedding dresses. Schools and community groups sought her expertise for designing and sewing choir robes, band uniforms, and costumes. She had great joy sewing for her children and grandchildren, and later made liturgical paraments for churches.
In 1964 she returned to college, graduated from Hartwick in 1968, and continued to earn graduate credits for many years from SUNY Oneonta. As an innovative English teacher for nineteen years, all but one at the Norwich Junior High, she individualized assignments and integrated other disciplines into her English classes long before this was mandated or considered best practice. Her students benefitted from her enthusiasm and creativity as she worked hard to see each student succeed. For several years she was the drama coach for the school musicals.
After retiring, she was a Literacy volunteer, tutoring individuals whose first language was not English. She enjoyed volunteering at the Pink Door Thrift Shop and the Gift Shop to benefit Chenango Memorial Hospital. She had a knack for finding the perfect gift for her family and friends. She traveled three times across the country with her husband, visiting every state. She kept detailed journals filled with humor, vividly describing people, places and experiences. Summer vacation weeks in the Adirondacks or Maine, with her children and grandchildren, made for especially cherished memories. She delighted in being grandma to six grandchildren, reading aloud to them and playing endless games of croquet or Chinese checkers, which she usually won. She took an active interest in each of their pursuits. She loved her two daughters-in-law, son-in-law and grandson-in-law as if they were her own.
In May 2014 she moved with her husband to Keene, NH to be closer to family.
She is remembered for her unconditional love, kindness, joy for living, creativity and resilience. She will be missed every day by her family: Thomas E. Merrill,
husband of nearly 65 years, sons William Merrill(Kathy Struski), and Brian Merrill (Gail Zang), daughter Ivy Merrill (Mark Ferrin), six grandchildren, Gillian (Tim Norman), Zachary, Olivia, Thomas, Zoe, Alex, and two great grandchildren, Molly and Maddie.
A graveside service will be held Saturday August 13, 2016 at 1:30 in the Leonardsville, NY cemetery. Friends are invited to join the family. In lieu of flowers, donations are gratefully accepted for sewing machines and seamstress training for women in Rwanda. Checks payable to International Ministries may be sent to International Ministries, P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851. Specify in memory of Reta Merrill for Seira Stitch by Stitch.