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I know it was you!!

February 26, 2020
Happy 89 Birthday dad!!!

As I am thinking of you today, I have a strange/funny story - So I was at a fundraising meeting last week and the invited guest was a "Medium".....she started to tell all of us (she did not know names or any personal information) how she came to be a medium and started to illustrate how it begins (I happened to be sitting across from her) and she started talking to the person next to me that someone she knew was trying to communicate....what she described was that "it was someone who struggled to breathe" and the person said she had no idea......much later it occurred to me that it was YOU!!!  When I realized it I was saddened that It didn't register but no worries....I have her card and will be talking to you soon!!!

xxoo Karen

HAPPY 88TH BIRTHDAY!!

February 26, 2019

Happy Birthday Dad!

sigh......today is your day and as always you will be in my thoughts.  Last night I thought "what would we be doing today for dad's birthday?" It makes me sad that you are not here but at the same time it brings back soooo many fond memories of the surprise luncheons we would have at dockside, or at the Delaney House....remember when the boys had to literally carry you up the back stairs that year at the Delaney House because the elevator was broken?!? or the time I took you to Dockside and the whole family was there waiting for you.  You always pretended that you were shocked but I think deep down you always knew that one of us always had something special for you on this day.

Happy Birthday Dad!!


Happy Birthday Dad

February 26, 2018

I think of you every day but especially today for your birthday !!  

It goes without saying that there is not a day that goes by that I wish you were still here!

HAPPY 87TH DAD!!! 

missing you!

February 13, 2018

Dad...Thinking of you ........:-(
xxoo Karen

happy birthday!

February 26, 2017

Happy Birthday Dad!

As is every day dad I think of you and wore mom's precious locket of you all day on the day you died but most importantly today on your birthday.  We would now be finished with our birthday luncheon and you and mom would be playing bingo...you hoping to win because today is "money" bingo.  

:-( just wish you were here and really here and playing bingo!!!

hugs,
Karen 

Happy Father's Day Honey!

June 19, 2016

Happy Father's Day Hon!

It is just not the same without you!  Wish you were here.....

I think you of every minute of every day and talk to you every night fas if you were here with me.

Karen is taking me to see you this morning.

I miss and love you every minute of every day!

Wish you were here.

Olive  

Father's Day 2016

June 19, 2016

A few months back, I happen to be going (actually snooping behind mom's back) through your wallet specifically looking for that beautiful bare shoulder picture of mom (which has mysteriously disappeared) because Patty and I were beginning to put together a "save the date" card for a surprise birthday party for Mom.

Anyway, in the midst of what was left, I found a tattered piece of paper all folded up with your handwriting on the back of it that said "TO BE READ AT MY FUNERAL"...well you can imagine how sorrowful I felt at that moment that I/we never knew of these wishes.  So, as suggested by Patty, I have saved this in my wallet for this day.  On this day, I want to honor your wishes by saying/typing it now for all to read.  The tattered paper read:

I beieve had I been given the chance to say some last words, that I would have chosen the following words of Randal Hohr:

"A time will come when my life will cease.  But when that time comes I ask that you remember these things:

...Bury my body but don't bury my beliefs.
...Bury my heart but don't bury my love.
...Bury my eyes but not my vision.
...Bury my fee but not the path of my life.
...Bury my hands but don't bury my diligent efforts.
...Bury my shoulders but not the concerns I carried.
...Bury my voice but not my message.
...Bury my mind but don't bury my dreams.
...Bury me but don't bury my life.
If you must bury something, let it be my faults and my weaknesses.  But let my life continue on in you."

So Dad, there you have it!  Your life and legacy will continue to live on through your seven children, 14 grandchildren and now 5 great granchildren.  

I have no doubt you are smiling as you look down on the 2 newest great-grandchildren.

I thin of you every day and miss you more and more as time goes on.

Always,

Karen xxoo

 

memorial day 2016

June 19, 2016

Happy 85th Birthday Dad

February 26, 2016

Happy 85th Birthday Dad! 

I thought of you all day today!  The sun was shining and it was cold but beautiful.  

It's still almost every day that I wish you were here to talk to.  I find myself always repeating that great phrase you used to say to me whenever you noticed that I was "blue"....you would say to me "come over here and tell yer daddy what's the matter"...I am very lucky that you instilled such a great family ethic and that my sisters are very supportive but they are not you pop!

By now I would have already picked you and mom up for your "birthday dinner" and we would have gone to Applebee's and you would have ordered your "sampler" for dinner and then declare when it came "Oh my God, I can't eat ALL OF THIS!" and of course mom and I would laugh as you would eat it all and them some of mom's dinner.  Really miss those days.

Hope you are whooping it up with your brothers and little sister!

hugs & kisses

karen 

2 years, 2 days

February 15, 2016

......2 years doesn't even seem possible!  It seemed like yesterday you were here.  I was so worried about mom remembering that I forgot to take a few minutes out to write to you.  Just wanted to say that I miss you just as much today as the day we lost you.  I surround myself with  you every day.  It is still so important for me that you know how much I loved you....

So today, as always, know that I "love you more"......

;-(

Two Years Gone

February 13, 2016

Two Years Gone

Its hard to believe two years have passed.

Too much time

since we saw you last.

 

Much in our hearts this February day

Your absence impacting

each

in a different way.

 

Twinkling blue eyes, weren’t always so warm.

Many challenging years, a lot on your plate

You trudged on,

beside your lifelong mate.

 

We know you had faults, were human and broken.

So many words, some unspoken

so much about you we will never know.

Questions unformed

we didn’t think to ask…

 

Husband, G.I., bus driver, truck driver, car guy, golfer, grandpa, “the big C”

 

Father of seven,

 

I feel certain

You must be in heaven.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

December 25, 2015

MERRY CHRISTMAS DAD!


Wish you were here

Karen xxoo 

Happy Father's Day

June 21, 2015

Happy Father's Day Dad!  2 years of father's days and I still miss you so much!  As in the posted picture, I miss helping you put your puzzles together.

My hope is that you are in a happier place and you miss us as much as you are missed.  Someday we will all be together again.

It's raining today and I will get mom and just wait for the rain to subside so that we can go and visit you.

xxoo karen 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

February 26, 2015

Happy Birthday Dad!  Can't help but wonder what we would have concocted for your birthday this year.  As I look through family pics, it was always fun to try to surprise you every year...and of course even if you knew we were drumming up yet another surprise birthday for you, you always were "surprised".......

Missing you even more on this special day!

love you always,

Karen 

Can't believe its already been 1 year :(

February 13, 2015

Today marks one year since this world has lost a great man, my Grandfather. I cant believe its already been a year.. I wish he was still around to listen to his silly jokes, watch him jam out to his music and listen to his stories from back in the day. There's so many questions of his past I'm constantly thinking of that I wish I asked him when he was still here :( He had an amazing, adventurous life & a very large loving family. Now he is up in the Heavens, we'll see you again in the future Gramps! I miss you and love you so much bud!!! Rest in Peace <3

one year ago today!

February 13, 2015

I can't believe it has already been a year!  There is not a day that goes by that I don't miss you.  I went to see you today and couldn't believe that out of all the headstones in the cemetary, I could actually not only see yours but could actually walk up to it.

I miss you dad......

xxoo Karen 

Christmas with Dad

December 23, 2014

It's funny. I don't have any particular story to tell about dad at Christmas. I do know that Christmas this year feels a bit off without him, even though I've lived 5,000 miles away from home for nearly 3 decades. I've thought a lot about him as we prepare for the holidays. He really loved George's homemade fudge so we sent some every year--this year, mom enjoyed it for both of them in dad's absence.

Last New Year's I was having GREAT difficulty making deviled eggs. Since dad had become an  expert at hard boiled eggs the past few years, I called him for a consult. I swear it was one of the longest conversations I'd had with him on the phone in years. He went into great detail about exactly how long to boil the eggs, the temperature of the water, how to take the shells off so they came off in one piece. "One piece??!!" I shrieked at him, lamenting that mine were all falling apart, the eggs looking pathetic and not worthy of being put out for our New Year's gathering. He laughed, I think actually delighted he was able to provide me with instruction and help in figuring this out. I haven't been able to boil an egg since without feeling like he's looking over my shoulder, trying to help me still.

So, dad, my deviled eggs were better this year as I thought of our chat last New Year's. I shed a few tears but mostly smiled at my memory of that phone call. We miss you still but know you are here with us at Christmas and always. Here is a wonderful photo I found of you enjoying Christmas with your Santa cap on.

Merry Christmas Dad- love you forever.

Patty

Thinking of You

November 11, 2014

Found myself thinking of you on this Veteran's Day, dear dad. Thank you for everything. I miss you lots. Am posting two photos- one of a little shrine in your honor that we put together when Karen and mom and I were together this summer back in Maine. The other is of one of my favorite puzzles you made. I managed to bring it back to Alaska in spite of its bulky size. It is now framed with a little plaque in your honor. It is both reassuring and inspiring for me to look at it to remind me of what someone can do, regardless of limitiations. 

Love, Patty

6 months......

August 13, 2014

Today it is 6 months that you have gone to the golden gates above pop!  As I sit and ponder here at work in front of my computer, I wanted to take a moment to glance at all the pictures we have all posted.  I have a neighbor that is in her nineties who had cut your obituary out of the paper and every time she sees me she still talks about how impressive you are and what a full life you lived.....and that you did dad.  You spent most of your adult life working 2 & 3 jobs just to keep your family comfortable.  I browse over the pictures of you with your grandchildren here on this site as well as the pictures at home.  You were so happy with all of them....always smiling and doing what you could to help out all of us.  I think of all the work you did at my condo.  You were an incredibly talented man, not stopping at anything.  If one of us needed something fixed you were right there - whether it was me around the corner or Kathy over 6 hours away when they needed help with something at the camp.

A funny thing happens to me sometimes......after work is done and I go home and take off my makeup I look in the mirror and I see your eyes instead of mine.  I have to smile a little to think that you are looking right at me.  Never realized before that I absolutely have your eyes.  It makes me realize that you are looking after me (really all of us).  I have your picture here at work and also in the car making me feel that you are with me all the time no matter what.

So dad, once again, know that there is not a day that goes by that I don't think of you.  Mom and I visit you every weekend.  She misses you so very much.  I will be taking her to California with me in September where she will get to see your great grandson once more.  She is looking forward to getting to see him and we will also meet up with Patty & George.  It will be good for her to get away.

Linda at the Arbors recently gave me a picture of you and mom dancing.  The caption reads "Celebration of Love Week" Dance 6/18/10.  What a grea picture doing what you both loved so much!

Love to you dad!  Miss you tons!xxoo

July 22, 2014

I actually cut and pasted this message that mom wrote under tributes.  I am attaching the picture I took of her at the grave.  She cannot stand for a long period of time so I came up with the idea of buying a folding chair so that she could take her time and talk to dad. (I also edited it)

"miss you so much.  it is so quiet without you.  Stopped by your grave with Karen today"

Dad in his element

July 13, 2014

It's summer and the fish are jumping. I can see the salmon leaping out of Gastineau channel from our living room window. Makes me think of dad and how much he enjoyed eating- and catching! fish.

This picture is one I couldn't locate but just in time for fishing season, here it is.

Dad- today, as I realize it's been 5 months since you entered a better place, I'm smiling as I look at this photo of the huge salmon you caught when you visited us in Juneau in the late 1990's. I think of you often and hope you have your fill of all that is peace and happiness.

Love and miss you,

Patty

father's Day

June 15, 2014

Happy Father's Day!

(sigh)....miss you xxoo

"The Chain"

June 15, 2014

Little I knew
that morning,
God was going
to call your name, i
n life we
loved you dearly, in death we do the
same.
  It broke our hearts to lose you,
you did not go alone,
 for part of me went
with you, the day God called you home.  
You left us beautiful memories, your love is still our guide,
and though we
cannot see you,
you are always
by our side.  
Our
family chain
is broken, and
nothings seems
the same,
 but as
God calls us one
by one,
 the chain
will link again. 

Dad in Germany

June 14, 2014

Here is the photo of dad in Germany- I couldn't load it and the recording of him to the same story, so here he is...!

Father's Day 2014- Dad's Voice

June 14, 2014
DadInterview2004

Father's Day is Sunday and I've been thinking about dad a lot. In the last couple months or so of his life, when I'd say good-bye and "I love you dad" he would sometimes respond by saying, "I love you too. I love you so much it hurts."

As I think of you this weekend, dad, I'll just say "Back at you dear dad, back at you." 

For all of us thinking of dad this weekend, I'll share two things:

I found this picture today as I was looking for something else. Dad in Germany-- the license plate for the car says US Forces in Germany.

The other surprise is I am sharing dad's voice. I knew I'd interviewed him but it took me a while to find the tape. I was able to share this with mom when I was back east but finally figured out how to add audio to my computer and make a file to put on this website.

I wish I'd thought to get a more recent recording of dad when I was back in January. Nonetheless, I am grateful to hear his Maine accent and voice saying "I was born in RANDOLPH, Maine !"

I hope everyone likes hearing him- hugs to all of you and HAPPY FATHER'S DAY, DAD !

Love, Patty

3 months today

May 13, 2014

It's 3 months today and I just wanted to say that it still hurts!  I don't visit your site often but when I come here it pulls at the heart strings.  I am sitting here at work thinking about all the pictures here on your site and you are sooo very happy to be with your family.  Too bad all the good things aren't realized until it's too late.  I hope with all my heart that you can see this site and you know how much you are missed!

It's funny that you always seem to do something to make sure we are thinking of you.  I called and checked on mom today and of course she was weepy most of the day.  She told me that earlier when she was reading her book, your prayer card fell out of the back pages.  I told her that it was just you making sure that she was thinking of you even more so on this day.

As I sit and contemplate what I will write to you on this day, all the pictures of you that have been downloaded (and many more to come) are flashing on the side. ....walking Patty down the aisle, the celebration of Kathy's wedding, eating lobster with John, the birth of one of your grandchildren (holding Maria)...your 50th anniversary party, boy could you and mom dance!  She misses that probably the most.....

Probably seems silly to some people that I write to you but it makes me feel better knowing/hoping that you know just how much you are missed

I love you dad!

Karen

miss you more and more

April 13, 2014

Well today it has been exactly 2 months since your passing......I just wanted to let you know that I still miss you as much today as I did 2 months ago.  It still feels surreal....so many things remind me of you, Dad!  I probably said it  before but certainly will continue to say it.  I guess I never realized how much of your life was a part of mine.  I go to the mall and always gravitate to your favorite arts and crafts store (of which I an never remember the name) just to check if the picture frames are on sale and then it sinks in once again that you are gone...     :( :(

While I was in california Lauren and I took Chase to the mall and into an "educational store" and low and behold I gravitated to the puzzle section and thought how much you would have liked some of the puzzles there and they were 500 pieces just like you liked! 

So again, dear dad, I miss you every waking moment.  I am off now to go get mom and take her out to get another fan....remember how you didn't want me to buy another one because all you had to do was turn it on and "manually give the blade a nudge" and it will work.....well mom can't do it so yes, I will finally be getting a replacement fan.

I love you and miss you,
karen 

St. Patrick's Day with Dad

March 18, 2014

I realized today that I'd gone the whole day not particularly thinking about St. Patrick's day. But then as George and I talked further, he reminded me that last year, we were all back in Massachussetts to visit mom and dad. George, Luke and I went to the Parade, walked by our old house on Northampton Street- yep, the one we all had so much fun at during these parades (!) and then spent the rest of the afternoon and early evening with mom and dad.

Dad got a kick out of this hat we bought downtown and modeled it for us- I am posting a shot of him hamming it up.

Thinking of you dad this evening, as St. Patrick's Day comes to a close here in Alaska.

Love, Patty

miss you!

March 13, 2014

It is exactly one month to the day!  It seems sooo very long ago that you entered the gates of heaven dad......I really miss you and there is not a day that goes by that something does not remind me of you........when you died, a piece of my heart went with you.  It is still extremely hard to believe that you are gone.......

signed......"one" of your favorite daughters" xxoo

Happy 83rd Birthday Dad !

February 27, 2014

I thought of dad a lot today, beginning with waking up and saying happy birthday to him while lying in bed. While making coffee, I heard something outside and couldn't figure out what it was. Then I realized it was a bird chirping, the first of the season! I took it as a sign that dad was present.

I had lunch with two friends who asked lots of questions about dad and I was able to share things about who he was, our last visit together, the services. This evening, we had our neighbor over to raise a glass to dad, who he was and what he gave to us. Family, as we all talked about and indeed experienced recently while together to honor dad, was his greatest gift to each of us.

We topped off our evening by watching the slide show of dad and then putting a piece of George's homemade fudge with walnuts (which we sent to mom and dad each Christmas) at our dining room table, placing a birthday candle in it and singing Happy Birthday!

So my dear, dear dad. Happy Birthday! I love you and miss you and will treasure your memory always in my heart.

Patty

Send off for Dad- from Kathy

February 27, 2014

I got Kathy's permission to post this- her note on 2/13/14--the night we all heard of dad's passing. Today seems fitting as it is his birthday.


Dear Family,

I received the call tonight from Shirley at 8:54 p.m. that Dad had passed. Oddly enough no tears would come, but I just sat for the longest time. Then I needed out. I bundled up and went outside to 7 inches of snow and crispy, cold Maine air and started to shovel and shovel. I thought of Dad and how much he loved the state of Maine and would always talk about the fresh air smell once we crossed the big New Hampshire bridge into Maine. The scent was that of the fresh ocean air.

I believe he is at peace, someplace beautiful and sunny and just soaking it all up with no shirt on, shorts rolled up and his fishing hat on. Of course, you can't talk about "Carroll Merrill" (I believe Brian came up with that nickname for him) without a little tribute to him for all his wonderful expressions:

1. "You can take that to the bank".
2. "Olive, I'm gonna take me a shave, shit, shower and shampoo".
3. "A number one Jobby Kinoby"?
4. "That's right".
5. "Olive fix me some tea".
6. "Oh, that's bullshit".

Of course, my favorite one which is brand new is, "Honey, I'm not suffering, I'm Tony the Tiger!"

I hope these tidbits make you smile because it certainly helped me a bit tonight. If any of you can think of more and add them to the list please do because I think it will make us all smile and recall fond memories.

I hope he goes fishing, enjoys a nice, cool Schlitz beer, a shot of vodka, and his favorite cigarette (Salem's). He could do it all, fix anything around the house, we always had the perfect lawn (not one dam dandelion or all hell would break loose), remember the "Jolly Green Giant"!

Well, there will be no more "Ground Hog Day" for him!

All my love and appreciation to my siblings who've traveled this road of being a family. That's all he ever would say he wanted was for us to just get along.

For me, at age 49, I still called him "Daddy" today on the phone when I said my final goodbye. I'm so proud to call myself his daughter and forever thankful.

Love to you All and Good Night Daddy

 

the sun god!

February 26, 2014

Boy dad....can ya cover up a little more!  That was always my response when I would see him out on the patio.  When they lived at 119 Outer Drive, the patio opening faced the street so that everyone could see him when he was catching his rays.....it was one of his many favorite things to do.  Prior to his heart surgery, he used to go to the tanning booth (all the girls LOVED him!) he always had such an infectious smile -

Even while he was recouperating, the nurses would comment about his "tan lines" :)  Way to go dad!

xxoo 

Painting the house on Northampton Street

February 26, 2014

Wow, does this bring back memories!  It took dad and I almost all summer to paint our house on Northampton Street in Holyoke.  Mom still talks about "how you would stop traffic with your short shorts and halter tops"  Boy those were the days......fond memories indeed

Karen 

Gone Fishing

February 23, 2014

Dad took us all fishing when I was around 15 yrs. of age. We went to the Brimfield Dam in Brimfield, MA. I do believe we took the Jolly Green Giant and all us guys piled in. I believe it was me (Carey), Danny, Steve Plouffe, I think Alfred was with us also. There were a few more guys that tagged along. I can't for the life of me remember who the heck everyone was? After all it was like 45 years ago.
 When we got there all of the guys went over the rail at the Dam and went down to the spillway where the water was like major stream 60 or 75 feet wide and the water wasn't that deep. Dad stayed up on the road and watched us all go down to the stream. We kept asking him to come with us and he just said, go ahead I want to watch all you guys. Well I'll tell you it was really something to see. There were about 6 of us I guess all stretched out across this stream. We were all fishing our hearts out and having a blast. Then one of us caught the first Trout and then the second one was caught. Before long we were all catching Rainbow Trout. These fish were not little either. The average sizes of the fish were 13 inches to 18 inches. I don't know how many fish we actually caught, but we had a lot of them. At the time I believe the limit was 6 fish each.
  We fished for a long time and we all had an awesome time. I can remember how excited Dad was and he also seemed very proud that his boys had caught some decent fish. This was one of the better fishing days of my life. Of course we all heard of the fishing excursions Dad used to do in North Dakota I believe. He would go out and catch Pike. I have seen pictures of these fish Dad caught and they were huge. They were as long as my leg and I could not even imagine what they weighed? 
  Dad took us on more then one fishing trip when we were kids. Even when I got older as an adult  me and Dad would go fishing at Knightville and Littleville dams. Hell, I even took Dad to 5 Mile Pond in Springfield. They would stock 5 Mile with Salmon and Rainbows. It was a different style of fishing that I had to teach Dad. He of course mastered it and had no problems catching his ownTrout. I can still remember Dad saying to me, "Son, there are no damn fish in this pond". And after he had caught one, "well son, I guess I was wrong". Dad even started going fishing by himself for awhile when either Danny or myself could not get out of work or could not go. Those were the days Dad! Thanks Dad for the memories!!! I will miss you......

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