ILION - Merrill E. Pardee, age 88, formerly of W. River St., Ilion, passed away on Sunday, November 30, 2014, at Mohawk Valley Health Care Center, Ilion, where he was a resident. He was born on June 8, 1926, in Norway, the son of Charles and Mildred (Lamphier) Pardee, and attended Poland and Herkimer schools. Merrill was a veteran of WW II, serving in the US Navy in the Pacific Theater. On January 5, 1963, he was married to Victoria "Vickie" (Utter) Rawson in Schuyler. She died on November 21, 1996. Mr. Pardee was employed as a tool & die maker at Utica Corp. for thirty-eight years, retiring in 1989. Merrill also owned and operated an excavation business in Sauquoit, NY, for about fifteen years. He attended the Ilion Baptist Church. Surviving family members include his adopted daughter, Kathy Remis, of New Jersey; and several nieces and nephews, including a special niece who he often referred to as his other daughter, Barbara Warney, of Cold Brook, and her son, Stephen Schrader, of Newport. He was predeceased by his parents; his sisters, Beatrice Spooner, Hazel Pardee, Nellie Beadle and Ruth Gonyea; and his brothers, Nelson, Carl and Kenneth Pardee. Funeral services will be held 12 noon, Thursday, December 4, 2014, at the Applegate-Day & Enea Family Funeral Home's newly reopened location at 102 West St., Ilion, with the Rev. Dr. Andrew D. Peloubet, Pastor of the Ilion Baptist Church, officiating. Interment will be in Oak Hill Cemetery, Herkimer, next to his wife, Vickie. Visitation will be held Thursday, December 4, 2014, from 11:00 a.m. to 12 noon prior to the funeral home service at 102 West St., Ilion. A special thanks from the family to the fourth floor staff at Mohawk Valley Health Care Center for the excellent care given to Merrill. Also, thanks to his great-niece, Kim, for her help. Anyone wishing to share a memory of Merrill, or add to his online memorial, may go to: www.applegateandday.com Merrill's service arrangements were prearranged and entrusted to his family Funeral Director, Don Applegate.