Fred Henry Merrell

16 September 2023 - It's my lovely Dad's Birthday today, he would have been 81 ❤️ Had he still been here, I know for sure he would have still looked many years younger than his age, being so active and fit, his unique style and appearance, incredible character and his amazing energy - the older he got, the younger he looked somehow, he seemed to be forever young and that's the way he will remain.

My darling Daughter always makes these days extra-special in memory of her precious Grandad, as if he were still here with us; she wrote a beautiful poem for him and played and recorded one of his favourite songs on her piano..... she and my Dad had the most wonderful, special and amazing relationship, a bond that will be unbroken forever, they adored each other and I will be forever grateful for the precious love, life lessons that he taught her and the endless fun and laughter he gave to her every day that will stay with her forever. Thank you, Dad.

Happy Birf my precious Pops, from all of us XXXXX
You are loved, adored and missed beyond words XXXXX

We've no idea how we arrived at two years without my dearest, most precious Dad. He is deeply loved, adored and missed more than words can ever say, by all of us - we talk and think about him every minute of every day. He always was and always will be the centre of our world, with every step we take and in everything we do. Mum is just like a lost little girl without him, the pining and yearning for my Dad is just constant, desperately wishing she could turn back time and have him back and the great love and life that she had with him, as we all did, but we are eternally grateful that he was ours and we are his, always and forever, Fred Henry Merrell – my Dad - I’m so proud to be able to say that. I love and miss you pops, with all of my heart and soul, your Louisey XXXXX

It is still so hard to believe that my dear Dad has ‘gone’ but to try and take in the fact that it is ONE YEAR AGO TODAY since he left us, well, Mum and I just cannot get our heads around it; it still feels like just a few weeks ago when we were with him, not just when he was poorly and slipped away but when he was fighting fit and large as life, that still only feels like yesterday too and we’ve felt like this all year, maybe because it is all still so raw but then again, I hope it will always feel like only yesterday that we were together.

Grief seems to have made time stand still in many ways. We know that we will always feel such deep sadness, sorrow and grief about losing Dad, he was our world and believe it or not, we realised so very much more amazing and wonderful things about him and what he was to us all and to so many other people, even more so after he passed, which that in itself brings its own sorrow (as the saying goes, sometimes you don't realise what you've got until it's gone), but I expect that is also natural to feel, as we always felt that Dad was invincible, he was our rock and our protector and the centre of our family and so naively thought he’d always be here. We realise that the grief will never leave and it is just learning to carry it, live with it and around it.

Although in the midst of all our sadness, it’s thanks to Dad that we find strength and positivity, due to all his wisdom and his incredible character and qualities and his own amazing strength and all his deep love and devotion to us all that never leaves us and makes us do the right thing together as a family in order to be strong. There is a constant duality of appreciation and devastation, forever grateful for the time we had and the wonderful, happy life we had with him and then feeling devastated that there wasn’t more time but always, always, we are so thankful and feel very lucky and blessed that he was ours, our greatest gift. Love was the last gift we gave each other, which will never die and in all honesty, time and love is all Dad ever wanted and what every loving and devoted parent deserves from their children and grandchildren; my Dad never asked a single thing of us, except that we are happy, he absolutely idolised and adored us and just wanted the best for us always.

I could post photos, thoughts and feelings about my lovely Dad on here each and every day but obviously that’s not the done thing, but I couldn’t let today pass by without posting a few words and photos of my beloved Pops, although there aren’t enough words to express how much we love, adore and miss him and trying to find the right words without writing reams is just so difficult and a post on here or anywhere couldn’t ever do my Dad justice but it is a small way of honouring him and especially on a day like today.

Your ever-loving Daughter, Louise XXXXX

6 months today since the beautiful soul of my Dad passed. I cannot believe it is ‘half a year’; 6 months has flown but time has stood still in many ways. Nothing is the same, everything is different, even the air feels different without him! Just can’t find the words to express how much we miss him but no matter how many months or years pass, nothing will ever change or separate us, in fact, our bond is stronger now than ever! Dad’s true and real Merrell spirit and strength also lives on in Mum, me and my family (the Merrell surname is officially now back with me and included in my married name – Deed Poll is a wonderful thing! Not that I need a name to prove it but I'm so proud to carry my Dad's and my Grandad's surname - thoroughly and genuinely good, loving, kind, respectable, decent and 'real' human beings) and we will make sure his good name lives forever. My Dad, Fred Henry Merrell - my amazing, wondrous, magical, adorable, strong yet sensitive, remarkable, loyal, hard-working, funny, kind, caring, wise, compassionate, deep-feeling, devoted, darling Dad, also a treasured and devoted Husband, Son, Grandad and Father-in-Law and friend. Loved and missed every second of every day, beyond measure, your ever-loving and very proud Daughter, Louise 💔❤️

We just want to thank every single truly wonderful person that attended Dad’s funeral service. I don’t think I’ll ever forget feeling so flabbergasted when we approached the Crem., firstly to see so many cars parked and overflowing the car parks onto the roads and when we turned in, we just couldn’t believe our eyes to see so many, many people, all lined up on both sides from the entrance right up to the chapel and beyond, we were literally gobsmacked and it took my breath away! We are so very sorry that so many people couldn’t get into the chapel and all had to stand outside in the entrance foyer and outside of that. We are very sorry if we missed speaking to every person that turned up but we knew who was there and more importantly, so did my Dad! Before we got to the Crem., again, we could not get over the huge amount of friends and neighbours where Mum and Dad live, turning out to pay their respects and wave Dad off for his final time leaving home, everybody started clapping him and it was just so beautiful. Thank you all so much. We thought the day of Dad's funeral would be the saddest day of our lives but it actually turned out to really feel like a celebration of Dad’s life and it brought us comfort with so much real love for my Dad and so much love and kindness shown to us. The genuine emotion, love and support we felt from everybody was truly amazing and will stay with us forever. We realise you all made such an effort and took time out of your daily life to be with us for Dad, so many people taking time off work and travelling long distances - thank you so, so much. I know my Dad would have been absolutely over the moon and stars to realise how much he was loved and respected by all you truly good, decent and kind people - 'REAL' people, as my lovely Dad would say! We will never forget all your beautiful, kind faces and your warm hearts. I really wish I could find more words to express our eternal gratitude and love to each and every one of you. xxx

Reunited - the two greatest men to ever walk this earth, my Dad and my Grandad. Loved and missed, beyond measure, forevermore xxx