blue eyes and cherry pie

My wonderful Uncle Merrill passed away on March 25th. He was a wonderful man, very influential on me and all of my siblings.

He had a deep affection for the wonderful world that we live in. He loved nature and being outside. He took me on my first moose sighting trip, and the moose chased the Jeep! Nothing funner and scarier than a horse with ginormous antlers chasing after you.

He always had the best secret places to go and enjoy the mountains around us. He loved to view the world from the highest peaks.
I was so glad that I was able to share one last trip with him when we visited Whitney Reservoir last summer.

He loved to travel and went on some pretty amazing trips all over the world.

He was a very successful business owner.

He was the most jokey and happy person you could ever meet, a friend to all. He went through some pretty rough events in his life, but always bounced back with a smile.

He was a lover of pie, especially cherry. It was always delightful to take him a pie on our visits and watch his beautiful blue eyes sparkle with excitement.

We will miss him dearly.

At his funeral there was a very lovely poem that reminds me so much of him, almost as though he had made it himself.

God hath not promised
Skies always blue,
Flower-strewn pathways
All our lives through;
God hath not promised
Sun without rain,
Joy without sorrow,
Peace without pain.
But God hath promised
Strength for the day,
Rest for the labor,
Light for the way.
Grace for the trials,
Help from above,
Unfailing sympathy,
Undying love...