FW: [R] Official Merrill Obit and Arrangements

["Mark Nelson" <tahoe@msn.com>]

Official family obituary:


Carl Everett Merrill, 62, of Ogunquit, Maine, died Saturday,
October 3, in Prescott, Arizona from cardiac arrest while
racing his race car in the Prescott Forest PRO Rally.

He was born in Bethel, Maine, and was a graduate of Gould
Academy.  Mr. Merrill received his undergraduate degree from
Gorham State Teachers College and masters degree from the
University of New Hampshire.

Carl moved to Ogunquit in 1960 to teach at Well High School,
where he taught industrial arts and coached two state
championship track teams.  He also acted as athletic director
and assistant football and basketball coach at Wells High.
In 1968, he continued his teaching career at Masconomet High
School in Boxford, Mass.

In 1963, after the urging of his college buddy "Mac"
McDougal, Carl took over a sundries store at Ogunquit Beach
which eventually lead to his ownership of Norseman Resorts.
Norseman Resorts currently owns and operates three resorts in
Ogunquit, Maine.  Among the many business ventures Carl
established were The Molly Trolley Corporate which owned,
operated and manufactured motorized trolleys in over 40
cities around the country and Puerto Rico.  Many Southern
Maine coastal communities now use trolleys.  Carl was also
the owner of River Fishing, Inc., a commercial fishing
operation; Sea Tern Timeshare condominiums at Moody Beach;
The Ogunquit Washbasket; and, his latest success, the Worster
parking lot which provided much needed additional parking for
the community.

Mr. Merrill was very active in the community.  His
contributions included Past President of the Ogunquit Chamber
of commerce, current President of the Oqunquit Library,
former Ogunquit Town Selectman, and member of the Ogunquit
Lions Club.  He was a member of the Maine and Massachusetts
State Teachers Association, National Teachers Association,
Maine Fish and Game, Maine Innkeepers Association, and the
Ogunquit, Wells and York Chambers of Commerce.

Carl's greatest passion was going as fast as possible,
whether it was in an airplane, skiing, of driving his PRO
Rally race car.  He was a two-time North American Rally
Champion, 1993 and 1996, and a Canadian Rally Series
champion.  His driving career started in 1989 at the Voyager
Rally in Canada.  Mr. Merrill was responsible for bringing
PRO Rally to the State of Maine by establishing the Maine
Forest Rally in Rumford, an event he won in 1995.  Prior to
his days as a driver, Carl owned closed-track race cars that
competed all over the Northeast, and helped launch the
careers of many drivers including Ricky Cravens and Kevin
LePage.

Many would argue that Carl's real passion was not racing, but
children or anything dealing with kids.  Around Ogunquit
Beach, he was known as "the candy man" to those not big
enough to look over the candy store counter.  Kid from all
over would not have their trip to Ogunquit Beach complete
unless they ran into "the candy man," who was known for free
handouts of all kinds of sugar treats.

Recently, Mr. Merrill was instrumental in the restoration of
School House #4 in Moody.  The facility is now being used by
local Boy Scout Troup C.

Surviving are his wife of 44 years, Barbara J. Merrill of
Ogunquit; two daughters, Lorna M. Wentzell of Ogunquit and
Martha M. Sheckells of Stuart, Florida; one son, Scott Carl
Merrill of Scottsdale, Arizona; three grandchilden, Mollie,
Hunter and Abilgail; one great-grandchild, MacKenzie; and two
sons-in-law, Mark Wentzell and Mark Sheckells.

A sunrise service will be held Thursday, October 8, at
6:15 AM on Ogunquit Beach.

Because of his great love for kids, The Carl Merrill
Children's Foundation has been established to benefit
children's causes in Maine.  In lieu of flowers, donations
may be sent to The Carl Merrill Children's Foundation, c/o
Smith Barney, 2398 Camelback Road #800, Phoenix, AZ 85016.