June Merrill

June Marie Tyler Merrill

Age 87, passed away peacefully at home in Beaver Dams and into the hands of her Savior, surrounded by her loving family, on August 17, 2022.

The family will receive friends and relatives at the Royce-Chedzoy Funeral Home, 212 E. 4th St., Watkins Glen on Wednesday (August 24) from 5pm-7pm; and Thursday (August 25) from 11am-1pm; followed by a funeral service at 1:00pm at the funeral home; burial at Montour Cemetery. A reception will be announced.

She is survived by her 9 children, Donald (Lucinda) Merrill, Bruce (Heather) Merrill, Phillip (Heather) Merrill, Virginia Merrill Taylor, Christine (John III) Paris, Linda (Rodney) Wheat, Deborah (Mark) Dawson, Bonnie (Vincent) Scuteri, and Tammy (Mike) Cole; brother, Leonard Tyler; sister, Jane Tyler Mullins; sister-in-law, Judith Merrill; 37 grandchildren; 69 great-grandchildren; 22 great-great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and her beloved companions, Minx and Misty.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 67 years, Christian Merrill; son, Richard Merrill; mother, Ruth Tyler Merrill; father, Leonard Tyler; parents-in-law, Francis and Orpha Merrill; brothers, Jesse (Marjorie) Tyler, Waldo (Betty) Tyler; sister, Marjorie Tyler (William) Merrill, brothers-in-law, Noble (Louise, Norma) Merrill, Frank Merrill, George Merrill, Herbert Merrill, and John Mullins; sisters-in-law, Mary Brewer Tyler, Charlotte Merrill (Alvin) Rozell, and Vera Tyler; and grand-daughters, Emily Sue Merrill Fedoriw, Charity Hope Cole, and Seglinda Lynn Taylor.

June was born on June 3, 1935 in Campbell, NY. June married the love of her life at the age of 16 years old. All while raising 10 children, June was a homemaker, a seamstress, a gardener, and a phenomenal cake decorator. Throughout her life, she made hundreds of extraordinary cakes for weddings, birthdays, graduations, anniversaries, holidays, and other events. She took great pride in her gardening and enjoyed admiring the flowers she planted and grew. June loved to cook and always made enough to feed an army; she always made sure no one went hungry. Everyone knew they could get grandma’s famous mashed potatoes every Sunday at 3:00pm. She was also famous for her Almond Joy Cake, homemade buns, and cinnamon rolls.

June worked at Chamber’s Wesleyan Camp and was a Sunday school teacher where she led many youth to Christ through song and arts and crafts. June and her husband also led the Youth Group at Millport Baptist Church. She was also a member of Faith Baptist Chapel.

In her extra time, June enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, fireworks, birdwatching, and traveling with her family. June loved decorating her home with Christmas lights, lighting up the whole hill. June loved to dance; she could always be found doing the polka, the jitterbug, the electric slide, and several other favorites. She loved all animals and had several animal companions over the years including exotic birds and dogs. She especially enjoyed Sunday dinners with all her family.

June was well known and respected in the local community. She was a very caring, compassionate person and always put the needs of others before her own. She was a woman of strong faith, believing in the power and strength of Jesus Christ’s love and the beauty and peace that would await her after her passing. Since her husband’s and son’s passing, June looked forward to the day she could be reunited with them and into the arms of her loving savior.

You may express condolences to the family online at www.RoyceChedzoy.com.