Avery Elizabeth Merritt, loved animals, volleyball
Avery Elizabeth Merritt, born Feb. 27, 2009, embodied the best parts of all of us. The beloved daughter to Russell Merritt and Tina Dombroski, younger sister to Jackson Merritt and Nathan Young, and cherished granddaughter to Janice Merritt, journeyed beyond this world Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025.
Avery was the glue that connected our lives. She saw through pretenses and offered advice with a depth of insight and clarity far beyond her 16 years.
Her natural creativity was boundless, and throughout her life, she produced incredible sketches, paintings, sculpture, jewelry, clothing, written stories, and culinary delights. Her attention to detail was evident in everything she did, completing even the simplest tasks with an artistic whimsy or a deeply thoughtful purpose.
Avery had a profound love for animals and was pursuing a future in veterinary medicine. She devotedly cared for her dog Lucy, her cats River Forrest and Terra, and her hamster Seuss. Her "heart horse" was Miley, with whom she shared an incredible bond of loving, trust and understanding. Together, they had become a fearless duo completing high jumps, courses, and liberty work. Avery competed in many equestrian shows and received numerous ribbons and accolades.
Avery's natural curiosity of the world around her also included plants and herbology. She often grew plants from clippings or seeds to create natural products and art, many times drawing her inspiration from Native American culture.
Avery loved an engaging story and enjoyed reading books, listening to podcasts about a wide range of topics from true crime to indie music to survivalism. She was a true aficionado of SpongeBob SquarePants as well as the Breaking Bad series. Despite living in an age of online content, she had an innate ability to remain connected in the present moment. To say she was nonconformist by nature would be an understatement. She was a truly special person in so many ways but did not like to receive attention for her exceptionalism. She was also academically gifted, excelling in all subjects, especially math, science, and literature.
Avery also shared a love for volleyball and grew her skills while playing for Premier travel teams, Sandsharks beach team and Sussex Technical High School. The friendships she gained through these leagues were meaningful to her, and the shared experiences of victory, loss, and growth made a great positive influence in her life
Avery was taken from this world far too early, leaving before her full potential was ever realized. Her family will never allow the beauty of her life to be overshadowed by the tragedy of her death and will honor her with every beat of their collectively heavy hearts.
A viewing will be held from 10 a.m. to noon, Tuesday, Jan. 6, at Watson Funeral Home and Crematorium, 211 S. Washington St., Millsboro. A funeral service will follow at noon. Burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Avery's name to feast-ed.org, an organization dedicated to bringing awareness and support to loved ones suffering from the illness of an eating disorder.
Visit Avery's Life Tribute webpage and sign her online guest book at watsonfh.com.
