Farewell, Scott Merrill

Scott MerrillIt is with a heavy heart that the LMUD family says farewell to retired lineman Kevin Scott Merrill. Scotty, as he was known, died from myeloma on January 27, 2021, in Susanville.

Scott was born October 10, 1951, in Westwood to Kevin and Laura Bell Merrill. He grew up in Westwood, attending local schools and graduating from Lassen High in Susanville in 1970.

Scott joined CP National in the water department as a meter reader in the mid-1970s. He stayed with the company through the transition to LMUD, working his way through the ranks to journeyman lineman and line crew foreman. He retired in 2013 as the district’s serviceman.

Scott met and fell in love with Toni Kingsbury—a customer service representative and meter reader at LMUD. After many years together, Toni and Scott married in 2014. Toni retired from the district in January 2020, planning to spend her days golfing, hiking with their dogs, and happily spending her retirement years with Scott.

“He was just a genuinely good guy,” she says. “He loved everyone and was always ready to help in any way he could. His passing leaves a huge hole in my life and the lives of many others.”

Scott was many things to many people. He was always willing to do whatever was needed.

Scott was a fixture at community events such as helping out with bucket truck rides at the Children’s Fair.

“As LMUD’s serviceman, Scott was the first responder to outage calls or customer concerns in the field,” says LMUD Operations Manager Cort Cortez. “Scott was wonderful in this position because he truly loved helping people and making things better. No matter the issue, when Scott was finished with a customer call-out, the customer was happy and Scott had made a new friend. He really will be missed by everyone who knew him.”

Those who worked with Scott knew him as a friend and mentor. He was never too busy to stop and say hello and offer a kind word or a joke to all. He was known for quietly helping any co-worker who was in need. In fact, Scott successfully lobbied the district to enact a sick leave donation policy so employees could donate sick leave to those who were dealing with extended illness and needed leave.

Scott left a legacy of kindness and caring. He set the bar for others to follow. To say he will be missed is, indeed, an understatement. Rest in peace, Scott.