William M. Merrill, Sr. (Bill), 77, native of Bethlehem, Connecticut passed away on July 5, 2020 at his home after a courageous battle with cancer. Bill was born July 27, 1942 in to a dairy farming family, the son of Roger Merrill and Lillian (Birge) Merrill. After graduating top percentile in his class at Watertown High School, he went on to study engineering at Brown University and agriculture at the University of Connecticut. Working with his father at the dairy farm, Bill gained a satisfaction of working with heavy equipment and went on to become an expert equipment operator in the fields of trucking, quarry operations, excavation and road systems. He worked throughout the New England states, Alaska, and West Virginia, and then retired to his home state of Connecticut. He was an avid sports fan following his New York pro teams and his favorite UConn Huskies. He learned gardening from his father and cultivated his son John’s passion and skills to produce from the earth. He enjoyed reading newspapers, solving crossword puzzles and all word games that expanded and challenged his knowledge. Bill is survived by his wife of 57 years Dorothy (Cole) Merrill; his children, William Jr, John and Ted; six grandchildren, William III, Christopher, Tanya, Lillian, Ashley and John-Luke; his great-grandsons, Tatium and Miles; his sister, Kathleen (Merrill) Lang and her husband, Gary Lang; his daughter-in-laws Cynthia (Lynn) Merrill and Kristine (Burns) Merrill. He is preceded in death by his son, Harold. Bill’s marriage to Dorothy brought him in to the Cole family of Woodbury, Norman, Lillian and seventeen brothers and sisters. The family of woodsman welcomed him as a son and brother of their own, fostering his joy of the outdoors leading to his hunting and fishing adventures in New England and Alaska. A great husband, father, brother, uncle and friend, Bill was always sought after for his advice and wisdom. He was identified as “Class Brain” in his High School yearbook, and provided the following quote “It is the nature of a great mind to be calm and understood.” He was known for his intelligence, kindness and compassion. He will be so greatly missed by his adoring family and friends. A Celebration of Life will be scheduled in the future once the pandemic curtails.