Donald Merrill, 73

Donald T. Merrill, 73, of Mountain Home, died Thursday Sept. 9, 2004, at Elmore Medical Center in Mountain Home.

Memorial services were held Saturday, Sept. 11, at 4 p.m. at Grace Fellowship, 3730 S. 132nd West Airbase Road, in Mountain Home.

Cremation was under the direction of Rost Funeral Home and Cremation Service.

Merrill was born Jan. 4, 1931, in Rexburg, Idaho, the son of Charles and Mary Illene (Billman) Merrill. He attended most of his schooling in the Idaho Falls area.

Donald joined the Navy in 1949, spending some time in the submarine fleet. After three years in the service he met his future wife, Ines, and they were married on June 14, 1953.

They traveled many places before his retirement after 20 years. They then decided to move back to Idaho Falls where Donald worked many years as a parts man in Idaho Falls and later in Boise.

They later decided to move to Mountain Home where he and Ines spent their last 11 years together.

Donald enjoyed fishing, working in his garden, traveling, and just being outdoors. "Donald just loved America," his family noted, adding that he also "adored his grandchildren. They were the love of his life."

Donald is survived by: his wife Ines, of Mountain Home; four children, Margaret Bums of Mississippi, Robert Merrill of Mountain Home, Nanette Haines of Mountain Home and Pamela Moody of Mountain Home; one brother, Dean Merrill of California; one sister, Jean Henton of Nevada; 11 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by both parents and one grandchild.