Hadley – Merle Evelyn Thornton Bacon (known to most as “Gram”) passed away on Friday, August 21, 2015, surrounded by her family.  Merle was 102 years young and had been in good health prior to a severe fall on August 8.   Her zest for life kept her fighting until the very end, but she finally succumbed to her injuries Friday evening at the Fisher Home in North Amherst, Massachusetts.  

Merle was born in Pelham, Massachusetts, on July 25, 1913, to Victor and Annie (Robinson) Thornton.  Merle was the oldest of three children.  She was predeceased by her brother Leonard Thornton (2013) and sister Shirley Caouette Ross (1998).  Merle was extremely close with both of her siblings.  On February 10, 1934, Merle married Carlton Bacon, who predeceased her on December, 31, 1968.  In their early years Merle and Carl loved to go dancing and spend time with family.  They had three daughters: Marilyn (died hours after birth), Linda A. Graves, and Sandra M. Potyrala.  The happiest times in gram’s life were spent with her daughters and grandchildren.  She leaves behind her two daughters, nine grandchildren: Thomas (Susan), David, Robert, and Kelly Graves; Scott, Daniel (Nikki), Jonathan (Heather), Jaime (Greg Zgrodnik), and Jennifer (Tom Storozuk) Potyrala: and eight great-grandchildren: Megan, Steven, Haylee, and Nicholas Graves; and Ashley, Lynsey, Hannah, and Stanley (Storozuk) Potyrala. Additionally, she leaves behind her sister-in-law Kathleen Thornton and her family, several nieces and nephews, a very dear friend Joseph Kisloski, and James Boden and family who gram thought of as her extra grandchildren. Others who predeceased Merle were her son-in-laws Chester Potyrala and Ronald Graves, her step-mother Rachel Thornton, and step-brother James Powers. 

Merle loved visiting with her family and friends.  She was a passionate Red Sox fan who was very thankful to have witnessed three world championships by her beloved Sox.  Additionally, she loved playing cards and made delicious pies and other baked goods. Merle retired from Paige Laboratory at UMass, where she enjoyed working for several years.  Merle never liked spending time alone and she was very fortunate to have spent several happy years with her amazing friend John Morton, who predeceased her in 1983.  She then lived with her daughter Linda’s family, before settling in for the last two decades at her daughter Sandra’s home. Gram loved to tell stories from her past, and we all hope that she is now safely with those family members she often spoke so fondly of over the years.  Gram, we will never forget you and all of your wonderful, quirky sayings and stories. 

A memorial service will be held in Merle’s honor at the Douglass Funeral Home in Amherst, Massachusetts, at 11:00am on Friday, August 28, 2015.  Donations may be made in Merle’s memory to the Fisher Home (Hospice of the Fisher Home, 1165 N. Pleasant Street, Amherst, Massachusetts, 01002). 

Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com

Service details, Social networking, Memorial Guestbook and Slideshow are available here.