Calais, VT – Merrill D. Legare, 77, died Thursday, March 29, 2018, at his home following an extended illness.

He was born in Haverhill, NH, June 16, 1940, a son of Ulric and Della (Frost) Legare.

He grew up in Groton, VT and graduated from Woodsville High School, Class of 1958.

Initially, Merrill worked as a logger and a forester.  He began farming with registered Charolais beef cattle.  After purchasing the farm in 1966, and for many years after, Merrill operated Legare's Farm Market in Calais, and became a well known horticulturist.  He farmed ten acres of strawberry fields, along with nurturing large corn crops along with many varieties of vegetables.

Merrill was an avid outdoorsman and hunter.  He loved walking in the woods.  Hunting trips took him to Texas, Manitoba, Newfoundland, Montana, and Arizona.  Locally, he supported the Central Vermont Longbeards Jake Chapter.

In his spare time, Merrill participated in local square dances and enjoyed camp at Woodbury Lake cruising on his pontoon boat.  He liked having children around, and when operating the farm, he employed many of his nieces, nephews, and other family members.

Survivors include his wife Donna of Montpelier, VT to whom he was married on July 17, 1993; three children, Diedre Marie Legare of San Luis Obispo, CA, David Ulric Legare of Mt. Dora, FL, and Palmer D. Legare of Washington, DC; a granddaughter, Heather Legare McManus and husband Kale of New Bern, NC and their children Dylan, Hunter, and Kathryn; two step children, Laura Sheehan and husband Dean of Malta, NY and their children, Justin and Nathan, and Lynne Wells and husband Guillermo Murcià` of Brooklyn, NY, and their children Analupe and Mateo. He is also survived by three sisters, Beverly Hatch and husband Cliff of Groton, VT, and Earlene Wetherbee and husband Bernie, and Myrtie Beck and husband Kendall both of Ryegate, VT; along with several nieces, nephews, grand nieces, grand nephews, and cousins.

He was predeceased by his father, Ulric Legare on July 20, 1980; his mother, Della L. Legare on January 7, 1992; an infant brother, Merrill Alden Legare; and a niece, Juli-Ann Beck on December 7, 1981, and a nephew Todd Hatch on November 10, 1988.

Merrill's family wishes to recognize the compassionate and loving care he was provided at home over the past several years by his caregivers James Kilgore and Michael Young.

Calling hours will be on Thursday, April 5th from 6 to 8 PM at Ricker Funeral Home, 1 Birch Street, Woodsville, NH.

The funeral service will be on Friday, April 6th at 11 AM  at First Baptist Church, 1115 Scott Highway, Groton, with Pastor Dennis Walton officiating.  Spring burial will be in the family lot in Groton Village Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Central Vermont Home Health and Hospice, 600 Granger Road, Barre, VT 05641.