W. L. "BILL" MERRILL

Graveside services for Mr. W. L. "Bill" Merrill, 88, of Kilgore were 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, June 3, 2008.

Bill was born in Escanaba, Michigan on August 19, 1919 to the late George and Georgia Merrill. Bill graduated from Independence High School. In September of 1939, he and Norien Rice were married. Bill 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. 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. In February, 1971, he was transferred to Kilgore as the Area Production Manager. In 1982, Bill retired from Gulf.

Bill is survived by his second 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, Kathy Wallace of Grapevine; 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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