I am Susan Merrill Lehman, Norman Merrill's sister, 17 months his senior. It is with both profound sadness and deep gratitude that I share these memories of my wonderful brother, Norm.
Our adventures began early. When I was five and Norm was just four, we flew on a military plane to Heidelberg, Germany, in 1952. Our dad was involved in the reconstruction there. We lived off-base in a German community, a place of beauty with a great river, though we were warned away from bombed houses being rebuilt because "the Russians were there and they were bad." It was there our family grew, welcoming our new baby brother, James Edward Merrill – Jamie – who is six years younger than Norm.
Next, we moved to Fort Ord in Monterey in California where my dad‘s mom lived with us for three years. Then we moved to Imperial Beach, California, and Norm again displayed his incredible gift: he made friends immediaely. Moves never seemed to bother him. But the most magical place for us was Houlton, Maine, in 1960. While our
dad went to post-war Korea, our mom moved us three kids to live in a small town near our grandparents' potato farm. That year, we had many exciting adventures on the farm. Norm and I were 13 and 14. We got three whole weeks off from school to pick potatoes! We worked hard to earn money for our winter coats – I remember earning $100, and Norm worked longer hours so I imagine he earned more. We actually enjoyed it, finding amusement in the potatoes' strange shapes – we discovered one that looked like a person, another like a boot, and a third like a tree. Little Jamie, only five, earned his dollar a day simply by staying off the field. We loved the snow, the farm horses, and our small town life. And of course, Norm had lots of friends.
Later, settled in San Diego, our mom worked full-time as a nurse. Norm shone in high school, playing basketball and cross country, and graduating with honors – just like his big sister! We both attended San Diego State College; he majored in Business, I in Math. Our majors were in the same building, yet we only ran into each other twice! Norm excelled at basketball, but tragedy struck a month after the season ended. He woke up unable to walk. After hospitalization, a wheelchair, and crutches, he recovered but could never play college basketball again. His spirit, though, was unbreakable. Heartbreakingly, six years after college, the paralysis struck again – the sudden inability to walk, the slow recovery. But he persevered. He played basketball often into his 70s, finding joy and health in the game. Basketball wasn't just a game for Norm; it was his ministry. He played with college kids, using it as an outreach to mentor many young men, always sharing the importance of his belief in Christ.
Norm's legacy is truly huge. His son Josh became a pastor and runs a large sports outreach program at his church. Norm poured into his five grandchildren too. Beyond that, Norm was a tremendous prayer warrior. I will miss his faithful prayers for me and my family more than I can say.
Norm, I miss you so deeply. I praise the Lord we had that precious family reunion the weekend before you passed. I will forever treasure those memories and the pictures we took.
With all my love,
Your sister,
Susan Merrill Lehman
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