Donald E. Merrill

Donald E. Merrill of Amarillo, TX departed this life on August 4, 2024. He was born November 17, 1944, to John W. Merrill and Eileen L. Pankau in Ellsworth, Kansas.

Don developed a lifelong love of hunting and fishing by spending time with his cherished grandparents, Kenneth A. and Zella Merrill and John and Irene Pankau. Don was raised with a love for his country and at a young age joined the United States Navy and served honorably during the Vietnam War. Don loved to tell his stories and would tell them to anyone who would lend an ear.

Donald was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, his beloved wife Wilberta Taulman; a sister RuthAnn Jackson (Merrill), and his eldest daughter Dawn Michelle Giordani (Merrill).

He leaves to cherish his memory, two children John W. Merrill (Kimberly) of Amarillo, Texas, and daughter Sandra M. French (Jeremy) of Winchester, California; four grandchildren, Briana Merrill (Joe) of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Christopher Merrill (Marisa) of Lamar, Colorado, Daniel Appleby (Cory) of Layton, Utah, and Austin French of Amarillo, Texas; seven great-grandchildren Teigen, Brocc, Journee, Emery, Renlee, Rowan and Cataleya; three sisters, Delores Reeser, Marjorie Wilcox, Dorothy Embrey and too many nieces, nephews and dear friends to count.

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations be made to the American Cancer Society or the Wounded Warrior Project.