Halton Eugene Merrill

family. Born in Lincoln, Maine, he was the son of the late Dean and Ethel (Crocker)

Merrill. He graduated from the University of Central Connecticut, where he received his

Bachelor of Science degree, and from the University of Southern Maine, where he

received his Master of Education. He was married to Penelope (Hall) Tompkins and

raised his family in Freeport, Maine, where he was employed for many years at L.L.

Bean, Inc., as Supervisor of Mail Services. Hal was very proud to have authored a

published booklet, A History of the First Baptist Church, Freeport, Maine for the

occasion of its 175th anniversary.

Hal’s life was marked by an unwavering commitment to education. He worked as a

classroom teacher in schools in Watertown, CT, and Portland, Durham, and Freeport,

ME, where he also served as Principal of the Freeport Middle School for several years.

Later, he worked as an instructor at the college level, most recently as a professor at

City University of New York, College of Technology. He inspired many, and his students

remember him as a patient and kind instructor who was always committed to their

success in and out of the classroom.

Hal was funny, kind, direct, and no nonsense, and his love for his family was beyond

measure. He was preceded in death by his sister, Phyllis. He is survived by Kimberly

Libby and her husband John, Nola Van Horr, all of Pownal, Maine, Rachel Lawrence

and her husband James of Warwick, Rhode Island, and his brother, Clifton Young of

Naugatuck, Connecticut. He is also survived by his eight grandchildren, Katherine

Sansom (husband Tres), Alexander Libby (husband Nicholas Ibarguen), Matthew Libby,

Janna Glynn (husband Michael), Ryan Lawrence, Meaghan Lawrence, Brendan

Lawrence, and Aidan Lawrence, and two great grandchildren, Benjamin and Abigail

Sansom.

A Memorial service will be celebrated on July 2nd, 2021 at 11:00am at Burr Cemetery in Freeport.