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Mooresville, NC, Merrill Burd Callen passed away peacefully at his Lake Norman home on December 23, 2016, surrounded by his family. With his always present smile, he had a positive outlook while fighting his brief battle with Glioblastoma. Merrill was born in East Orange, NJ on September 2, 1933 and grew up in nearby Essex Fells, NJ. His family spent summers on the Jersey Shore and later moved to Rumson, where he fell in love with the water and learned how to sail. He owned a boat from his teen years until his death. He was an active member of Lake Norman Yacht Club, where he started a week long junior sailing camp held every June since 1970, served on the Board of Directors, and in recent years was the yacht club chief scorer. He won the club championship two times, and for his dedicated service to LNYC was awarded the JS Livingstone Award twice. Merrill actively raced his Y-Flyer centerboard boat for over 30 years throughout the US. He was Past President of American Y-Flyer Yacht Racing Association and was awarded the President’s Award twice for his service to the class. In the last ten years, he raced a San Juan 21 and sailed his final regatta on July 4th this summer. He graduated from The Lawrenceville School 1952 and Trinity College 1956 with a BS in Mechanical Engineering. Most of his career was spent in the textile industry, and he retired from Collins & Aikman Corp after successful career supporting automotive textiles. Family was the most important thing to Merrill. He is survived by his wife Margaret (Maggie) of Mooresville, NC, daughters, Elizabeth (Lisa) Callen, Charlotte, NC and Victoria (Tori) and Paul Denoncourt, Raleigh, NC, grandsons, Matthew and Joshua Denoncourt, Raleigh, NC. He is also survived by his brothers and their families: Daniel Callen, Ooltewah, TN; Andrew Callen, Concord, MA; and Brock Callen, Chilmark, MA; his sister-in-law and her family, Lyn Callen, Vero Beach, FL; and brother-in-law and his family, Philip Driscoll, Portsmouth, RI. Merrill was predeceased by his older brother, John H Callen Jr, and his parents, Lenore Merrill and John H Callen, Gloria Batten Callen Ferris and Morris Douw Ferris. Merrill will be remembered for his kind spirit, loyalty, friendly smile, and problem solving skills. A celebration of his life will be held in early February. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice & Palliative Care of Iredell County, Statesvile, NC or St. Therese Catholic Church, Mooresville, NC. Cavin-Cook Funeral Home, Mooresville, is serving the family.

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Merrill Burd Callen

September 2, 1933 - December 23, 2016