Donald Merrell

Canton, Donald Allen Merrell, age 65, of 479 Burnette Cove Road, passed away on Monday, May 20, 2013 at The Homestead. A native of Norfolk, Virginia, he was the son of the late Chandler Valgene and Billie Maxine Roman Merrell. Don attended high school in Oxnard, California and played on a state championship football team. He also attended community college in Oxnard and served in the US Navy Reserve during the Vietnam Era. He became interested in glass blowing and secured an apprenticeship with Gene Boutz, a German master glass blower in Claremont, Florida. Don had resided in Haywood County since 1995 and was the owner and operator of Incentives for Excellence, specializing in awards and recognitions. He was an active member of Long's Chapel United Methodist Church and was instrumental in the SALT (Sound and Lighting Technology) Team for his church. Don was also an avid photographer and gardener. He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Caroline Celia Merrell; three daughters, Megan Neal and husband, Clyde and Elisha Deaver and husband, Jacob, of Clyde and Brooke Fish and husband, Bucky, of Canton; five sons, Bill Lorber and wife, Diana, of Dallas, Texas, Mark Merrell and wife, Danielle, of Emerald Isle, North Carolina, Jonathan Merrell and wife, Anna Kate, of Pensacola, Florida, David Merrell and fiancée, Savannah Swanner, of Waynesville, and Joshua Merrell of Waynesville; two sisters, Patty Anne Suppé and husband, Charlie, of Norco, California and Angel Seibert and husband, Bud, of Virginia Beach, Virginia; three brothers, Greg Merrell and wife, Linda, and Robert "Bobby" Merrell and wife, Jill, of Tulsa, Oklahoma and Gary Merrell and wife, Theresa, of Emerald Isle, North Carolina; mother-in-law, Trudy Rapp, of Clyde; and eleven grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 23, 2013 at Long's Chapel United Methodist Church with Reverend Dr. Charles W. "Chuck" Wilson, II, Reverend Leyton Alan Mears, and Reverend Woody Adams officiating. The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday at Wells Funeral Home of Waynesville. Memorials may be made to Long's Chapel United Methodist Church Praise and Worship Team, P.O. Box 459, Lake Junaluska, NC 28745.

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