W. L. "BILL" MERRILL

Graveside services for Mr. W. L. "Bill" Merrill, 88, of Kilgore will be held Wednesday, June 4, 2008 at two o'clock in the afternoon, in the Kilgore City Cemetery with Pastor Sherry Crenshaw officiating. Mr. Merrill passed away Tuesday morning surrounded by his family.

Bill was born in Escanaba, Michigan on August 19, 1919 to the late George and Georgia Merrill. The family later moved to Independence, Kansas where Bill's father owned the Ideal Hardware Store and his mother taught school. Bill graduated from Independence High School. He began his college education at the local junior college. In September of 1939, he and Norien Rice were married. Bill continued his education and worked to support his family. Bill also attended Oklahoma A & M prior to transferring to The University of Oklahoma where he graduated in 1942 with a degree in Petroleum Engineering. The day he graduated from The University of Oklahoma, Bill went to work for Gulf Oil Company. In 1943, he enlisted in the United States Navy where he was later commissioned as an Officer. As Bill said later he joined the Navy rather than the Army because he heard that the food was better in the Navy. Bill served on the minesweeper, U. S. S. Rodman, where he said that he played bridge, ate chocolate and watched movies on a sheet. Bill played the bugle while he was in the Navy and played "Taps" on several occasions. After his discharge from the Navy, Bill continued to work for Gulf Oil. Gulf sent him to Austin, Texas where he was "on loan" to the University of Texas teaching Petroleum Engineering. The family moved around the country during his employment with Gulf. In February, 1971, he was transferred to Kilgore as the Area Production Manager. Norien passed away November 19, 1975. Several years later, on February 3, 1979, Bill married Helen Maines. In 1982, after 40 years with Gulf, Bill retired from the company. For several years after his retirement, he did consulting work for various companies.

Mr. Merrill was a voracious reader and worked several crossword puzzles on a daily basis. He loved to swim and in addition to swimming in his own pool, he went daily to the Fitness Center at Kilgore College. Bill was a very private person, who had a very dry wit and you could tell when he was about to tell you a joke or a story because his eyes would sparkle and he would begin to chuckle. Bill worked around the house fixing things and was always using his training as an engineer to devise "a better way" or solve a problem. He was always ready to help a neighbor when they needed help with a project or a problem. He was a loving, devoted husband, father and grandfather who was proud of his family. He was a man of integrity and his word was his bond.

Bill is survived by his wife Helen Merrill of Kilgore; three daughters, Sue Ormiston and her husband Greg of Wynnewood Oklahoma, Jo Anne Skeen and her husband Gene of Palestine, Texas, Kathy Wallace of Grapevine, Texas; one son, Kevin Merrill of White Hall, Arkansas; two stepdaughters, Paula Taylor of Austin, Hope Higgins of Henderson; one stepson, Mark Lockhart and wife Jan of Longview; thirteen grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

His parents, his first wife Norien, a son Mike and a sister Martha Mertes preceded Mr. Merrill in death.

Memorials may be made to the American Lung Association, 8150 Brookriver Drive, S-102, LB-151, Dallas, Texas 75247.

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