Helen L. Merrill, 97 GORHAM  – Helen Louise Squier Merrill passed on February 13, 2017 with her daughter by her side. She was born on February 6, 1920 in Gorham, the only child of William H. and Helen M. (Newcomb) Squier. She grew up in Westbrook, graduating from Westbrook High School in 1939. She worked at S.D. Warren Co during WWII. After raising her three children as a full-time mother, she returned to work at Saunders Brothers before retiring in 1982. She met her husband, Herbert S. Merrill on a blind date on New Year's Eve. They married in 1943 and spend the next 60 years together in a house they built on Lamb Street in Westbrook. Herbert passed in 2003 and Helen continued to live there independently for the next 11 years. She was an avid reader, enjoyed embroidery and later knitting, including making mittens and hats for her grandchildren. She was a talented seamstress sewing for herself and family. She delighted everyone with her toll house cookies, whoopie pies, lemon meringue, lasagna, and her specialty Boston Crème pies. Helen will be remembered as a loving, dedicated mother by her three children, who felt her support as they grew and raised families of their own. She embraced her son and daughters-in-law with loving arms. As a wonderful grandmother, she spent countless hours reading books and playing games with her eight cherished grandchildren. She is survived by her two sons, Dennis L. Merrill and his wife Nancy, of Whitefield; Paul A. Merrill and his wife Suzanne, of Westbrook; and a daughter Martha M. Carter and her husband Michael, of Buxton. Her eight grandchildren are Andrew Merrill, Cindy Glynn, Kevin Merrill, Jason Merrill, Laura Merrill, Peter Carter, Sarah Carter, and Leah Carter. She also has three great-grandchildren and two more are expected soon. With heartfelt gratitude we thank our Gorham House family who cared for Helen during the last three years, as well as the loving caregivers from Compassus Hospice. A visitation will be held from 10-11 AM this Saturday, followed by a funeral at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Ed Delong officiating at Blais & Hay Funeral Home, 35 Church St. Westbrook (interment will be in the spring). A reception will follow at Westbrook-Warren Congregational Church at noon.  Online condolences can be expressed at blaisandhayfuneralhome.com