A friend gone too soon

Deirdre Newman

Nine-year-old Tony Merrell had a golden smile and a positive spirit

that affected everyone he came into contact with.

On Friday, friends and family members came to honor Tony’s life at

a memorial service at Christ Lutheran Church. The fourth-grader died

Jan. 28 of brain cancer.

As people entered the church, they were greeted with poster boards

plastered with Tony’s pictures. Many of them displayed his favorite

pastime -- fishing -- with a broad grin on his face as he held up a

prized catch on the deck of a boat. Tony loved the ocean, and his

ashes were scattered at sea at his favorite fishing spot on Feb. 6.

Since Tony was born on Friday the 13th in 1994, his parents wanted to

celebrate his life on Friday the 13th as well, said Pastor Bill

Hemenway.

After a photo presentation of Tony’s life, some of his friends and

family members shared their thoughts.

“I just miss him a lot and also, when I first found out what

happened, I cried more than five times,” said Andy Fishbeck, 9, a

friend from school. “I’m still not over it. I just wish it wasn’t

him.”

Sherrilynne Dangl, Tony’s third-grade teacher, said Tony was

always looking out for others at school.

“I saw the love Tony always gave to other students,” Dangl said.

“When we had a new student come, he was always there to befriend

him.”

Tony’s mom, Carol Dugan, thanked the community for their support.

“I’ve never seen a community be so supportive and so helpful,”

Dugan said. “I just want to thank everyone for everything they’ve

done.”

Tom Swett, a friend of Tony’s father, Bill Dugan, praised Tony’s

parents for raising him to be so caring and compassionate.

“Tony was the best kid and that’s because you two showed him how

to be,” Swett said.

Tony’s last words to his mother were, “I love you Mom, but I have

to go now,” Hemenway said.

Tony’s friend, Jack Sample, said he hoped heaven was just like

Tony imagined it to be.

“One time on the beach, we were talking and he told me what he

thought heaven was like,” said Jack, 9. “There was candy everywhere,

there were good waves and there were ... guacamole bushes. I didn’t

know what those were, so I asked him and he said he didn’t know

either. But I hope heaven is how he pictured it.”