Merrill F. Hathaway

Portsmouth, - Merrill Francis Hathaway, 86, of 417 Middle Road Portsmouth, died Friday, February 14, 2003 at Newport Hospital Newport, RI.He was the husband of Florence Bachard Hathaway. He died on their sixty-seventh wedding anniversary. Born in Tiverton, RI on March 12, 1916, he was the son of the late Howard W. and Nellie Calder Hathaway. He lived in Portsmouth most of his life. He was a orchardist. He inherited the Hillcrest Orchards on Middle Road from his father and ran the Willow Glen Orchard on Anthony Road after his fathers death.Mr. Hathaway followed his father into public service and politics in Portsmouth. He served on the Portsmouth School Committee for 12 years, from 1948 until 1960. He was a member of the Portsmouth Planning Board for 26 years. For 2 years he served on the High School Building Committee. He was president of the Rogers High School PTA for one year. He was a volunteer Fireman for over 15 years as well as a longtime member of the Portsmouth Lion?s Club, the Portsmouth Republican Town Committee, and the Portsmouth Cemetery Board. Mr. Hathaway was employed by the Portsmouth Water Department for 8 years and served on the Portsmouth Water Board for several years.In 1986 Mr. Hathaway was honored by the Portsmouth Grange for over 40 years of service to the town. In the same year he was cited by the R.I. House of Representatives and the R.I. Senate for exceptional service. President Eisenhower appointed Mr. Hathaway to his Agriculture Advisory Committee. Besides his wife of 67 years he is survived by two sons Merrill Hathaway Jr. of Bowie, MD, Jeffrey Hathaway of Tiverton, RI, three daughters Audrey Sheats of Northfield, MA, Lynn Bailey of NH, and Florence Oliveira of Portsmouth, RI, his brother Milton Hathaway of FL, his sister Nellie Bachand of Somerset, MA, eleven grandchildren and ten great grandchildren.He was the brother of the late Raymond Hathaway, Norman Hathaway, Howard Hathaway, Wallace Hathaway, Harold Hathaway, Clinton Hathaway and Roselind Litchfield. His funeral will be held Saturday, February 22, 2003, at 11:00am in the Connors Funeral Home, 55 West Main Road, Portsmouth. Burial will be in Portsmouth Cemetery in Portsmouth. Donations may be made in his memory to the Portsmouth Volunteer Fire Department and Ambulance Fund, PO Box 806, Portsmouth, RI 02871.