Larry Donovan Merrill

Larry Donovan Merrill

Born November 22, 1935 -Died July 19, 2026.

He is survived by his loving wife Baerbel Merrill, three sons Frank O’Clair, Edward O’Clair, George O’Clair and daughter Michele Jons. At the time of his death, he was 90 years old. He was born in Springfield, VT and died in Gillette, Wyoming.

Larry grew up and continued his education and completed his master’s degree in Maine and became a teacher, he taught in Clarmont, NH and Recluse, Wyoming. He served in the National Guard for 26 plus years.

He met his wife Baerbel though his Aunt Penny. She said you need to meet my nephew. Baerbel was a widow with four children and Larry always said, “she is only babysitting”, when his daughter was finished school and started working, he always said that “are we done babysitting”. Larry was a great father and a teacher to the children who loved him and admired him. Larry was a great outdoor man, hiking, skiing, canoeing, dog sledding, and more. Larry and Baerbel travel Europe and Alaska, Larry spend over 20 winters in Alaska, volunteering for the Yukon Quest, an iconic international sled dog race that traditionally spanned 1,000 miles between Fairbanks, Alaska and Whitehorse, Yukon. The race, historically dubbed “the toughest sled dog race in the world.” Larry will be missed by all who loved him.