Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-05-24
ELIZABETH POWERS
MERRILL, MAINE POET
DIES IN MELR0SE,MASS,
Especial to Kennebec JournaD

| Especial to Kennebec JournaD
; Skowhegan, May 23.-Mrs. Eliza
beth Powers Merrill passed away
Sunday evening at o'clock at the
New England Sanitarium at Melrose.
Mass, where she went three weeks
| ago today for treatment. Mrs. Mer-
rill was born in Stetson, Maine, SO
years ago last July, and was the
daughter of George F., and Loantha
Goodwin Powers.
! Mrs. Merrill was educated in the
city's schools in Waterville. being
! graduated from the Coburn Classical
| Institute. In 1883 she was married
to j. Palmer Merrill and since that
time has resided in Skowhegan. at
the beautiful home on Coburn av-
enue, where her son, Maurice p. Mer-
rill and family now reside, excepting
few months during the past two
winters which Mrs. Merrill has pass
, ed with her sister. Mrs. Fl. A. Ben
nett. Mrs. Merrill has been prom
: inently associated with many of the
organizations of the town, having
been regent of the Eunice Farnsworth
Chapter, Daughters of the American
Revolution, president of the Skowhe-
gan Woman's club, president of the
Skowhegan Sorosis, president of the
Town Improvement Society and as
sociate matrcn of Sunset Chapter, No.
So, Order of Eastern Star. Because
of a death in her family Mrs. Merrill
did not serve as worthy matron of
the Chapter. Mrs. Merrill was a
member of the Clementine Weston
Woman's Christian Temperance
Union and for some years was super
intendent of one of it's departments
which considered equal suffrage. Mrs.
Merrill was a member of the Maine
Writer'S Research club and for many
years she was a valued and very
helpful member of the Congregation
al church. Mrs. Merrill was a woman
of high literary attainments and a
poet of unusual merit. Mrs. Merrill
was the author of the poem ""The
Pines of Maine" which was adopted
by the Maine Federation of Women's
clubs as the Federation song. Many
of her poems have frequently appear
ed in the Kennebec Journal and have
given inspiration and help to all who
have had the pleasure of reading
them. Mrs. Merrill published a book
Of poems "Where Bugles Call and
Other Verse" in 1914 and had the
material arranged for a second book
of poems, which. had it not been for
failing health in the past few months
would have been published before
now. Many of her poems have been
set to music. Among the best beloved
are "My Heart Remembers Thee" and
Sunrise With the Master" Mrs.
Merrill was possessed with unusual
talent as public speaker and had
spoken in many places in her own
and other states. 1t is with a feel
ing Of deep sadness and appreciative
of its great loss in the passing away
of Mrs. Merrill that citizens Of Show
hogan on Monday learned of her
death. She was greatly beloved by
large circle of friends and acquain-
tances here, where for so many years
she had lived and loved and worked,
always for the uplift and betterment
of the community.
Mrs. Merrill is survived by one son,
Attorney Maurice P. Merrill, who was
with his mother at the time of her
death; two sisters Mrs. H. A. Ben
nett of Waterville and Mrs. Frank
White of Bangor. and a brother, Ed
gar Powers of Nevada.
The remains, accompanied by Mr..
Merrill. will arrive in Skowhegan to-
day. The funeral arrangements will
! be made after Mr.. Merrilrs arrival.