Obituary of Gary W. De Merchant

Gary W. DeMerchant, 66 PEABODY—Gary W. DeMerchant, 66, beloved husband of Janice (MacPherson) DeMerchant of Peabody, died peacefully on Thursday morning at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers with his family by his side. Born in Fort Fairfield, ME, he was the son of Helen (Kennedy) DeMerchant of ME and the late Donald DeMerchant. He lived there in his youth, and in high school he transferred to a trade school in Connecticut. He was encouraged by a cousin who took him under his wings, and developed his passion for plaster work. Mr. DeMerchant was self-employed as Salem Dry Wall and Plastering for over 40 years until he retired due to health issues. Gary enjoyed life and had a gift of sharing his sense of humor with everyone. An outdoorsman, he spent time at his vacation home in Waterville, ME, and enjoyed boating, fishing, hunting and snowmobiling. He will be dearly missed by family and friends, including: his wife, Janice (MacPherson) DeMerchant of Peabody, with whom he shared 23 years of marriage; his children, Mark DeMerchant of Salem, Sherry & Michael Desclos of Danvers, Albert & Kris Brown of South Attleboro, Timothy & Darcy DeMerchant of Rochester, NH, and Kim & Jimmy Festa of Peabody; six grandchildren, Victoria Desclos of Danvers, Kyle Brown of South Attleboro, Deavon and Ariana DeMerchant, both of Salem, and Emma and Jimmy Festa both of Peabody; three sisters, Shirley & Vernie Oakes of CT, Donna & Bill LaRue and Carolyn Kelly, both of ME, a special Goddaughter, Katelyn Madden of Peabody, and many nieces and nephews. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to his Funeral Service which will be held on Monday at 10 AM in the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn St. location, Peabody. A visitation will be held on Sunday from 4 to 8 P.M. in the funeral home. Burial will be in Puritan Lawn Memorial Park, Peabody. Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of the North Shore, 75 Sylvan St., Suite B-102, Danvers, MA 01923