Merlin Williams Perry

We are deeply saddened by the loss of our husband, brother, father, grandfather, great grandfather and uncle Merlin Williams Perry.

 Merlin was born on the Perry Family farm (a mile north of Perryville school) on the 5^thof April 1937. Merlin passed away the 6th of June 2020 exactly two months short of his 60th wedding anniversary. Merlin is predeceased by his parents Austin and Isabelle Perry, sisters Margaret (Meakes), Pauline (Frost), and infant son Darryl.

Left to celebrate Merlin's life are his wife Ida, brother Sheldon, son Bill (Angela) and their children Bobby and Raysha (Trevor) Mountney and great granddaughter Ida May; daughter Annamae; son Ivan (Heather) and their children Kiana and Taran; son Kevin (Crystal) and their children Kalum and Klaya; as well as nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
Merlin grew up on the Perry family farm and worked hard as a farmer most of his life. Merlin and Ida knew each other since childhood and cemented their courtship while Merlin was working in Regina and Ida was attending nursing college. They were married the 6th of August 1960. They lived in a small trailer in Austin and Isabelle's yard with their three small children for the first five years after marriage before establishing a farmyard with a log house a mile and a half from where Merlin was born. They bought a new home for the farmyard in 1976 and lived on the farm until they retired to Wynyard in 2013.
Merlin loved working the land and worked with a large variety of equipment.  He operated a land clearing /seismic cut line /road building business for many years. For a few winters he also hauled water for oil rigs.  He took great pride in caring for the equipment and keeping it in tiptop shape. Merlin loved driving heavy equipment and he would patiently teach anyone who was interested how to operate machinery. All his children are mechanically inclined from working with their dad. At age 82 he was still operating a crawler tractor (CAT) and loader at the Touchwood Hills Landfill. Merlin was interested in keeping up with advancing technology in farming. While working with Larry Hartl he operated a combine with GPS and computer monitoring abilities. He joked while combining his home quarter for the 70th year in a row that since he had 70 years’ experience, he should get paid $100 an hour. Merlin valued being from the Perryville district and attended Perryville Church of Christ for many years. He loved participating in the grounds upkeep at the Stone Church.  Merlin and his brother Sheldon lived and farmed near each other most of their lives and were always working together and helping each other out. Merlin enjoyed being part of a small community where neighbors supported each other as often portrayed when they pulled into a neighbor's field to help with harvesting. Merlin was longtime friends with too many community neighbors to count.
Merlin was extremely proud of his children, grandchildren and great granddaughter. He was always interested in a game of three spot or any board game that the family pulled out. Merlin was not much for TV but liked Hockey Night in Canada when the Maple Leafs played and enjoyed Don Cherry’s “rock em sock em” videos. Any nature or machinery video was also watched with interest and joy. He enjoyed family snowmobiling outings with models from Alberg to Smith Rolls to John Deere to Polaris. Merlin had a big smile and enjoyed a good laugh. He could make an instant friend of anyone. He was always up for a farm auction or an adventure like boating with Kevin, Crystal and their kids. He taught his children to love the great outdoors, which is now being passed on to his grandchildren and great grandchild.  Merlin will be remembered as a true gentleman, a kind, fun-loving family man, friend and neighbor. He will be greatly missed.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, a private family service will be held.