Carol Marie Merrill

1930-2012

The Chapman sons, Gary, Mark, and Doug are saddened to announce the passing of their beloved mother, Carol Marie Merrill. Carol passed peacefully on Dec. 16, 2012. She was just one week shy of her 82nd birthday.

Carol is preceded in death by her husband, Bill Merrill and her parents, Roy and Eleanor Locke. She is survived by her brother Jerry of Corvallis, Ore., and her sister Lora Lee of Tucson, Ariz. Her three boys live in Idaho. She leaves behind four beautiful grandchildren as well; James, Greg, Kayla and Celina.

Carol was born in Richmond, Calif. in 1930. Her parents moved to Edmonton, Alberta when she was in her late teens. There she went to a vocational school studying music and shorthand. It was there that she met her first husband, Stan Chapman. They were married for 25 years and had three sons together. They moved to California and then relocated to Orcas briefly in 1962 and then permanantly in 1972.

A temporary job at OPALCO led to a 21 year career as the executive secretary to four general managers. She loved the job and all of those she worked with there.

Carol met her second husband, Bill, while working at OPALCO. He would come in to use the copy machine. He built her a beautiful home on Buck Mountain with some of the best views on the island. They were married for 23 years before Bill succumbed to complications from a brain tumor in 2000.

Carol loved animals and always had dogs and cats. She fed the blue jays peanuts every morning on the porch of her home. The birdfeeders were always full.

Carol will always be remembered for her loving heart and generosity. She will be especially missed at the holidays as Christmas was her favorite.

The family would like to thank the Orcas Island community for their love and friendship to Carol for so many years. In lieu of flowers, Carol asked that a small donation be made to the Orcas Island Community Church Building Fund.