Arthur F. “Lefty” Merrill, Jr., 89, longtime resident of Milford, NH, died on February 3, 2022 at the Granite VNA Hospice House, Concord, NH.

He was born in Goffstown, NH on September 2, 1932, a son of Arthur F. Merrill, Sr. and Inez (Russell) Merrill. He was raised and educated in New Boston, NH and graduated from New Boston High School, Class of 1950, where he was a member of the baseball team.

Art had been employed as a machinist at Ingersoll Rand, Nashua, NH for several years and later owned and operated a landscaping business for many years.

He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing and snowmobiling. Art loved the holidays, especially Christmas, and cherished the time spent with his family.

Art was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and was honorably discharged in 1956 with the rank of Airman First Class.

He was predeceased by his first wife, Adell M. (Mattley) Merrill, who died in 1983; and a brother, Donald Merrill.

Family members include a son and daughter-in-law, Timothy & Jacqueline Merrill of Milford; two daughters, Susie Branch of Milford, and Debra Davis of Tewksbury, MA; Lovingly known as Papa to his eight grandchildren and their spouses, Kate & Mike Soleau of Milford, Heather & Noah Proctor of Wilton, Jillian & Joshua Rafter, and Kyle Merrill, all of Milford, Allira Branch and Alanna Branch, both of Manchester, Zachary Davis & Shannon Kellher of Amesbury, MA and Branden Davis of Nashua; six great grandchildren, Hudson and Piper, Emmett and Kove, Easton, and Renee; and his former wife, Anita Merrill of Wilton.

Services were held on Wednesday, February 9th in the Smith & Heald Funeral Home, 63 Elm Street, Milford. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery, Milford, at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations in Art’s memory may be made to the Huntington’s Disease Foundation. Arrangements are in the care of Smith & Heald Funeral Home, Milford. To share a memory or offer a condolence, please go to www.smith-heald.com.