Charles S. Merrill

LEWISTON – Charles S. Merrill, 74, a resident of Livermore, passed away on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at Central Maine Medical Center with his family by his side. He was born in August, 1950, the son of Clayton Merrill and Catherine (Robichaud) Merrill and grew up in Riley, attending Jay schools. Charlie worked at the Otis Paper Mill for 32 years, retiring when the mill closed in 2009.

In August of 1977, he married his wife of 47 years, Brenda LaFreniere, at St. Rose of Lima Church in Jay. Together, they raised their children, Michelle and Thomas, on Round Pond in Livermore. Charlie enjoyed snowmobiling, ice fishing, leisurely boat rides around the lake, and campfires with the whole Cozy Cove Crew, of which he was the Mayor. He was a member of the VFW Auxiliary, where he enjoyed cribbage tournaments, Friday night dinners, and heading up their locally famous chicken BBQs. Later in life, Charlie took up beekeeping and helped introduce others to the hobby with his work in the Western Maine and Maine State Beekeepers Associations – he always took good care of “his girls” and enjoyed gifting honey to friends and family.

More than anything, Charlie loved being a father and Pépère. Michelle and Tom grew up knowing that he could be counted on for everything: coaching youth sports teams and school activity groups, chaperoning field trips to Boston and Florida, cooking fries at football games, class fundraisers, and building dugouts, bleachers, and a concession stand for the LFHS softball field. He truly modeled what it meant to be a member of the community. When his grandson was born prematurely and couldn’t attend day care, Charlie helped provide in-home care for his first year. He loved his family trips to Disney World, especially when his grandsons grew big enough to go on the rides with him or when he could slip away for a guys’ trip with Tom. He looked forward to Sunday dinners with the family every week, and Pépère could always be counted on to sneak a peanut butter cup to Noah and Leo.

He is survived by his wife, Brenda; daughter, Michelle Brann, her husband, Darren, and children, Noah and Leo of Winthrop; son, Thomas of Livermore; brother, Dennis Merrill and his wife, Judy of Readfield; his mother-in-law, Alice Lafreniere of Livermore; brothers-in-law Stephen (and Joy), Harvey (and Lisa), Gary (and Kim), Ross (and Shiloh), Lance (and Kristi), Leon (and Debbie), many special nieces and nephews, and a huge circle of loving friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Suzanne (Merrill) Vose and her husband Paul, brother Kenneth, and father-in-law, Sonny Lafreniere.

Messages of condolence may be sent to: http://www.finleyfuneralhome.com.

 Funeral will be held at 1 p.m., on Monday June 2, at FINLEY FUNERAL HOME, 15 Church Street, Livermore Falls. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., prior to the funeral service. Interment Holy Cross Cemetery, 445 Park Street, Livermore Falls.

Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to the Ronald McDonald House of Portland, an organization dear to Charlie’s heart.