Raenota Maas Merrill

Raenota Maas Merrill, 82, passed away Monday, November 14th, 2022, in her home at the Foothills Community in Easley. Born in Mattoon, Illinois, she was the eldest daughter of Thomas and Pauline Storm and sister to their children Tom and Jeanie. Raenota was married twice, first to Gerry Maas in October 1961 with whom she had three children: Brian, Leanne and Michelle. After his passing in 1996, she married Jack Merrill in 2005 with whom she lived until his passing in 2015. Other family include Leanne’s husband Paul Allvin and their children, Nathan Allvin (fiancé Taylor), Rachel (Allvin) Laenen and her husband Luke; Jeanie's husband Bruce Diemer and their children Sarah, Adam, and Carla; Tom's wife Lois Storm; and Gerry's sister Nancy and her children Greg and Jerry.

Throughout her life, Raenota was a nurse, a physician’s assistant, and volunteered for various mission trips assisting with medical needs. Healing and helping folks was part of her nature. She was a devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, and grandmother, but also a friend to family and others she knew. The church was an important aspect of her life and she was involved in Fort Hill Presbyterian Church in Clemson through the handbell choir, prayer shawl ministry, shepherd for the children, covenant partner for youth, and in leadership serving as an elder and a deacon.

She enjoyed traveling, seeing, and learning of other places and cultures. Interests and hobbies were sewing, knitting, cooking, theater, music and reading.

Raenota lived a very full life doing some things few get to do, and she would want us to celebrate life rather than mourn her death. This was her faithful witness while she lived and how she died. The family is grateful for all who are here to celebrate her life and give thanks to God for the blessing that she was to so many.

Memorials may be made to two of Raenota’s volunteer agencies: The Dream Center of Easley at https://www.dreamcenterpc.org/ where she was an active advocate or to the Presbyterian Communities of South Carolina where she served as an ambassador https://www.prescommunities.org/make-a-gift .