Merton Hill '59

Merton E. Hill of Dayville, Conn., passed away on Oct. 14, 2024, after a brief battle with cancer at home surrounded by his loving family.

He was born in Harrison, Maine, on July 12, 1940, to Henry and Edna (Kimball) Hill.

“Mert” attended school in Conway, N.H. He was a graduate of Fryeburg Academy in Maine and attended the University of New Hampshire. He bought an Army/Navy Store in Conway N.H. Later went to Cornell University for Eastern Artificial Insemination.

Mert married Dorothy (Rines) Seavey in 1967, a widow with three children, and they moved to Whitinsville, Mass,. to service farms in Worcester County. In 1969, he moved his family to Woodstock. In 1973, he changed careers, bought Ted Kuper's business and became an independent contractor for IBA (Independent Buyers Association) and worked until he sold his business in 2012. Mert also drove truck for Paul Sansoucy and Randolph Blackmer, as second jobs. After retirement, Mert worked for Sig Swanburg on construction. Mert became close friends with all of them, as well as nearly all the farmers he met in his area.

Mert enjoyed Dartball and weekend parties with friends. Horseshoe games, stock car races, watching the Patriots and sharing football stats with anyone, especially his grandson Evan. His favorite annual trip was camping at Fryeburg Fair, showing oxen, watching pulls, and hosting our “5-o-clock” gatherings trackside. He enjoyed coffee breaks with his peers, and was still planning coffee runs with Sig a week before he left us.

He is survived by “Dot” his loving wife of 57 years; daughter Andrea Hill MacWilliams of Pomfret, Conn.; Corinna Hill-Malaveda of Dayville; Darrell Seavey and wife Denise of Venice, Fla.; Dennis Seavey and wife Mary Beth of Woodstock; Diane Smith and husband Todd of Woodstock; and Kelly Ignasiak of N. Charleston, S.C. Also, grandchildren Toni, Evan, Brooke, Chuck IV, Marnie, Kristen, Shelley, Melissa, Shane, Josh and Cailan; and great- grandchildren Jacob, Riley, MacKenzie, Chloe, Camden and Alice. Merton is survived by his brother Ronald Hill and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, in the East Woodstock Congregational Church, 220 Woodstock Road, East Woodstock, CT 06244. A celebration of life will follow in fellowship hall, 220 Woodstock Road, East Woodstock.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in his memory to East Woodstock Church, P.O. Box 156, East Woodstock, CT 06244; Muddy Brook Fire Department, P.O. Box 222, East Woodstock, CT 06244; or St. Jude. Share a memory at www.smithandwalkerfh.com.