Nancy A. (Galloway) Merrill

Nancy A. Merrill – Amherst, NH

Nancy A. Merrill graduated from Edward F. Searles High School in 1947. She lived in Methuen her entire life until she and her father Bob Galloway decided to move to Woodbridge, VA to be close to her daughter Pam and grandchildren Matthew and Kristina Smith. She finally ended up in Amherst, NH. She liked to call herself the Smith camp follower.

Nancy attended Lasell Jr. College for a year, before realizing her real calling was nursing. She went on to attend and graduate as a diploma nurse from New England Baptist Hospital in 1951.

She worked as a Labor and Delivery nurse for 30 years at the Bon Secours Hospital in Methuen. We estimate she assisted with over 10,000 births!

She was the mother of Gary C. Merrill who tragically died in 1971 from a fall at college. She and her husband Wilfred J. Merrill decided that life was too short, so they started to live their dream of world travel. Although Wilfred passed in 1983, she continued their quest. She ended up visiting 43 states and 57 countries! Their favorite trips were to the South Pacific Islands where they were sometimes the only visitors at remote villages. One village was rumored to be occupied by reformed cannibals within a generation of their visit. Other favorite trips were to visit their daughter in Juneau, Alaska where Pam and her husband were stationed. This was just a jumping off point to the rest of this amazing state. She even took a trip to Disney World by herself in her 70's and had the time of her life!

Nancy is pre-deceased by her son Gary C. Merrill and her husband Wilfred J. Merrill; also her parents Gerard "Bob" Galloway and Olive Lippold Galloway. Her brother Tom Galloway, his wife Edith, sisters-in-law Edie (Merrill) Habib and her husband George; Gladys (Merrill) Bernard and her husband Warren Sr. and their son Walter. 

Survived by daughter Pamela A. Smith, grandchildren Matthew M. Smith and Kristina C. Moustakis and her husband Peter; and great-grandchildren Charles J. Smith, Ariana M. Moustakis, and Victoria A. Moustakis. Many nieces and nephews also survive her.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to kittyangels.org (POBox 638,Tyngsboro, MA 01879) to celebrate Nancy's love of animals- in particular cats who experienced difficult beginnings..

Calling hours are Wednesday, February 7, 2024 from 10 – 10:45 AM at Dewhirst Boles Funeral Home, 80 Broadway, Methuen, MA 01844.  A service will follow the calling hours at the funeral home at 10:45 AM.  Burial will follow the service in Elmwood Cemetery in Methuen, where Nancy will be laid to rest next to her husband and son.

Please visit www.dewhirstbolesfuneral.com for directions, or to sign the online guest book.

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