Obituary of Wavel "Scott" DeMerchant

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The family of W. Scott DeMerchant, 70, of Douglas NB, is sad to announce that he passed away on Friday, January 09, 2026 at Hospice House in Fredericton. Scott was born in Perth, NB on July 5, 1955, the first child of Shirley (Scott) DeMerchant and the late Wavel DeMerchant. Scott graduated from Bath High School and went to work in Ontario immediately upon graduation. He returned to New Brunswick to begin his career at NB Power Mactaquac from which he took early retirement in 2011.

In his younger days, Scott always enjoyed being on the move, from the days he was a toddler and raced his tricycle down the hall and through the wall, to owning a motorcycle and bringing back a fancy red car from his years working in Ontario. As an adult he slowed down and settled in with his “reliable” blue GMC truck. We were all very happy for him when he upgraded to a new 2025 Dodge Ram. 

Scott loved doing outdoor activities with his father, including hunting and fishing. However he didn't always seek his father's approval and was known to play hooky from school to go fishing for trout. 

Scott always enjoyed working with wood. When his children were born, he made for them a dressing table and a dresser. Later in life he developed skills for more delicate woodwork. He was self-taught and often surprised family with his latest carvings of a bird, fish, or other objects. He shared what he learned by teaching a small group of students how to carve wildlife and became a respected craftsman selling his wares at local exhibitions and supplying souvenir shops across the Maritimes. His handcrafted whale-shaped salad servers were particularly popular.  

Scott loved to tease, to tell jokes and stories, some of which were true. He was not a great conversationalist on the phone but loved receiving calls from his grandson Xander who loved to talk to Grampy. 

Scott was a man of his word whether it was calling his mother twice a week, filling an urgent wood carving order from a business, or keeping his marriage vows to love “in sickness and in health”. His life was shattered at the passing of Mary after 35 years of marriage. When Gail came into his life he was grateful for a second chance. 

Scott will be remembered for his kind and easy going nature. He will be missed by many.

Scott is survived by his wife; Gail (Given) DeMerchant; his mother; Shirley (Scott) DeMerchant; children, Jeremy DeMerchant (Jannah), Amy DeMerchant, Kerry McNaulty and Frank Morris; grandchildren, Dominic DeMerchant and Desirae Porter, Alexander, Norah and Gideon DeMerchant, Madeleine McNaulty, Benjamin, Raymond and Samantha Morris; brother, Kyle DeMerchant; sisters, Shirley Lynn and Krista Avery (Glen); several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Besides his father, Scott was predeceased by his first wife, Mary (Williston) DeMerchant and his brother; Dwight DeMerchant.

There will be no visitation by request. A Funeral Service will be held from York Funeral Home’s T. Gordon MacLeod Memorial Chapel on Friday, January 16, 2026 at 2 pm with Rev. Debbie Edmondson officiating. The service will also be available through www.yorkfh.com (Link at top of obituary). Interment will take place at a later date in St. Paul’s Anglican Church Cemetery, Zealand, NB. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice Fredericton (Palliative Care Resource Network Inc. ) or to a charity of the donor’s choice. Personal condolences may be offered through www.yorkfh.com