Born: December 27, 1904
Died: May 26, 2002
Married: Sylvia Philburt
Children: Barbara Erickson, Carolyn Sillars
Merrill Thomas founded Merrill I. Thomas Real Estate.
Lake Placid News, May 31, 2002
Merrill Luther Thomas, 97
I.AKE PLACID - Merrill Luther Thomas passed on quietly in his home Sunday, May 26, 2002, with the comfort and support of his wife “Tad” and his daughters “Tucky” and Barbara. Born in Rushford on Dec. 27, 1904, he was the son of Clarence Hovey Thomas and Julia Ednah Merill Thomas.
He came to Saranac Lake at about the age of nine where he was raised by his mother after the death of his father. He graduated from Saranac Lake High School and from New York University in 1930. After 11 years at the Bank of Lake Placid, he founded Merrill I. Thomas Real Estate Inc. He also founded what is now Northern Insuring Agency.
During 72 years as a member of the Lake Placid community, he was deeply interested in civic services. Merrill served on many community projects for years. He helped to raise funds to build the Placid Memorial Hospital and also served on the hospital board for more than 20 years.
Merrill was the originator and founder of the Lake Placid Chamber [of Commerce? Missing words]
[Other?] people he got interested in the idea were William Hovey, owner of Lake Placid Hardware, and James Madden, owner of the Marcy Drug Store. Their interests as prominent businessmen helped him to influence many others to join and get the organization going.
One of Merrill's projects was finding a location tor the W. Alton Jones Cell Science Center to be built. He served on the Board of Directors for more than five years He also served as trustee tor North wood School for more than five years and as a warden vestryman for the St Eustace Episcopal Church in Lake Placid. He was a 76[?]-year member of the Lake Placid Masonic Lodge and a member of the Lake Placid Kiwanis Club for 50 years. He helped originate the Lake Placid Historical Society and served on its Board of Directors for several years.
Mr Thomas is survived by his wife, Sylvia Philburt Thomas of Lake Placid; two daughters, Barbara Erickson of South Burlington, Vt. and Carolyn Sillars of Clarence; five grandchildren; Eric Erickson of Boulder, Colo. Mark Erickson of Littleton. Colo., Kari Erickson Hou of Centreville, Va., Andrew Weller of Blue Bell, Penn., and T. Joseph Weller of Boulder Colo. and four great-grandchildren.
There was a Masonic Prayer Service at the Clark Funeral Home on Tuesday, May 28. Funeral services were held Wednesday. May 29 at St. Eustace Episcopal Church in Lake Placid with the Rev Judson Pealer officiating. Burial will follow at the North Elba Cemetery.
