Samuel Lee Merrill

Sam was unique to this world in his combination of tremendous achievements across varying disciplines, yet complete humility. Those who knew him well treasured him for his brilliance, kindness, and inextinguishable competitive flame. He will be missed deeply.

Sam enjoyed playing tennis and excelled both in high school, maintaining a top 25 ranking in Texas, and in college, where he was a multiple time All-Conference player and the number one singles player on the team.

He was a talented piano player and used this skill to court the love of his life, Emily, in the early days of their relationship at Southwestern University. They married on July 5, 2008 in Puerto Morelos, Mexico. In 2013, Sam and Emily welcomed twin boys, Henry and Lee. Sam enjoyed entertaining his precious sons by playing piano in their home.

Sam’s prestigious academic record includes being a top 10% graduate at J. J. Pearce High School, graduating with honors from Southwestern University where he was a Brown Scholar with a BA in Economics and a minor in Math, and graduating with the Chancellors award from the University of Texas School of Law where he was on Law Review. Since 2007, Sam was a tax attorney at Thompson & Knight where he became a partner in 2015.

He was loved and survived by his wife, Emily Caster Merrill, his sons, Lee and Henry Merrill, as well as his parents, Roy and Donna Merrill, and his brothers, David Merrill, Jay Merrill, Jason Womack, and Paul Womack. He was pre-deceased by his sister, Catherine Paige Schmidt of Houston, TX.

Funeral services will be held at Sparkman-Hillcrest Funeral Home & Memorial Park at 7405 Northwest Hwy, Dallas, TX on Friday, January 15, 2016 at 2pm. In lieu of flowers, the family appreciates contributions to the education fund for Henry and Lee Merrill at https://www.gofundme.com/ujuwzpek.