Madeline Phillips Merritt

Bonnie Merritt passed on April 1, 2012 at her last home of many years, Woodland Terrace,

where she was very active as a resident. She had many friends and found a home in such a loving

community.

Bonnie was born in Boston, Massachusetts on October 17, 1916 as Madeline Elizabeth

Wickstrom. Later, she changed her name to Bonnie Phillips. Her maternal grandfather, Lou Phillips,

was very influential in her life. She was one of four children: William, Emily and George. Her

beloved sister passed at 8 years old of fever and George died in 1986 of cancer.

Bonnie put herself through Lowell State Teachers College, 1934-1938. She paid her own

way by her professional trumpet performances. Her music teacher, Walter Smith, was world renowned.

A music critic described Bonnie as “perhaps the best cornetist in the nation”.

She met the love of her life, Wesley Stearns Merritt, while she was playing trumpet at Forest

Acres in Fryeburg, Maine. He was an accomplished piano player, organist and educator. Bonnie

and Wes settled in Brockton, Massachusetts then later moving to nearby Newton and Easton,

including seven years at Borderland, the Ames estate. Wes taught music at Brockton and Newton

High Schools, while Bonnie taught music at an Easton elementary school. And they both taught in

the summer at Fessenden Day Camp in Newton, where their daughters could enjoy great camp life.

They moved with their four daughters to Montpelier, Vermont in 1957. Bonnie taught 5th

grade there at Union School for many years. She was a Vermont Teacher of the Year in the 1960’s.

In 1978, Bonnie was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Lowell in

Massachusetts. She was always proud of having been on stage with John Updike who also received

an award at that time. In the late 1980’s, she and Wes moved to Florida. They led a ukulele band

that toured many nursing homes. She also became an accomplished self-taught artist of oil painting,

watercolor and charcoal drawing.

She was predeceased by her beloved husband; her daughter, Susan Edith Merritt-Trail, her

grandson, Paul Arris, and her son-in-law, Lee Verne Arris.

She was very proud of her grandchildren – Paul Lee Arris, Daniel Wesley Arris, Judy Brog

and Nuviah Ames Shirazi-Clark. She was also proud of her great grandchildren Daniel Brog, Jeremy

Brog, Zoe Clark and Harper Clark.

She is also survived by a loving cousin, in Maine, Ted Nixon and his wife Gail Nixon and

his family. She also leaves behind two son-in-laws, Robert Trail and Jeffrey W. Kerrigan and many

friends both in Vermont and Florida. She was a proud member of the PEO, a philanthropic women’s

organization that gives scholarships to young women. She was a devout Christian Scientist.

A large thank you goes out to all her caregivers at Woodland Terrace and to her friends who

faithfully visited her regularly. Also thanks to the Hospice Team who provided additional support

in her final days.

Contributions in her memory may be sent to Hospice of Citrus County the Nature Coast.