Merrill Everest Towne, Sr.

Morrisville-Merrill Everest Towne, Sr., 80, passed away peacefully Friday, November 28, 2014 at Copley Hospital with his family by his side. He was born March 7, 1934 in Morrisville, the son of Everest Raymond “Stub” Towne and Helen Irene Miller Towne. He was a 1953 graduate of Peoples Academy and served in the U.S. Air Force in Greenland and England during the Korean War.

Merrill was a jack-of-all trades and worked in many vocations through the years including stints with H.A. Manosh and O’Neal Demars; Ward’s Auto Repair; Rowell Brothers and most recently with Fisher Auto Parts up until August of 2013. He had also worked many years on the Towne Family farm and was proud to have been recognized for having the Highest Official Producing Holsteins in 1980 by the DHIA in Lamoille County.

He enjoyed playing poker and was an avid NASCAR fan with Rusty Wallace being his favorite driver. At one time Merrill had raced snowmobiles sponsored by Howard Manosh and also worked on snowmobiles. He enjoyed hunting but didn’t enjoy helping Shorty drag his deer out. He had made several trips to Charleston, SC to help restore his sister, Helen’s house and enjoyed going out to breakfast with Hezzy.

Merrill is survived by his children, Lorraine Towne-Cavarretta and husband, Paul of Elmore; Merrill “Shorty” Towne, Jr. and companion, Amy Haders of Elmore; Marjorie Churchill and husband, Jeffrey of Morrisville and Patrick Towne and wife, Aimee of Morrisville; grandchildren, Adam and husband, Michael; Samantha and husband, Rick; Benjamin; Abigail Jane; Jennifer; Sarah; John; Sophia; Xavier; Cameron and Lucy; 2 great grandchildren, Aaliyah, and Brandon “The Governor”; his former wife, Jane Rooney Towne whom he married on December 13, 1958; his siblings, Nina Allaire of Morrisville; Claire Jordick of Morrisville; Roberta Rudavsky and husband, Frank of Punta Gorda, FL; Clarence “Hezzy” Towne and partner, Clover of Morrisville; Helen Page and husband, Ridler “Buzz” of Punta Gorda, FL; S. Brown Richardson and wife, Jane of Burlington; and Stacey Washer and husband, Jason of Morrisville and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents; a sister, Ann Darrah and long-time companion, Laura Lanpher.

Funeral services will be held Friday, December 5, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at the First Congregational Church in Morrisville. Visitation will be Thursday, December 4 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Faith Funeral Home, 165 Brooklyn St., Morrisville. Interment will be in the Wheeler Cemetery with military honors.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Merrill’s memory may be made to Lamoille Home Health and Hospice, 54 Farr Avenue, Morrisville, VT 05661.