Erin Lane Merrill

Erin Lane “Hawk” Merrill, 34, passed away on Saturday, January 31, 2026. Born on March 5, 1991, in Sierra Vista, Arizona to JT and Kelly Merrill.  Erin became the pride of his hometown when he placed first in 56 Kilo weight class of the Schoolage National weightlifting championship in June of 2006, fittingly held in Merrillville, Indiana. Following that, he was determined to sample all that life had to offer and took part in football, baseball, golf, wrestling, track, and disc golf. He took up watercolor painting, 3D-printing, and even meat smoking. A fan of the outdoors, Erin was a hunter, a rockhound, an archer, and occasionally a participant in treasure hunts on the Wasatch mountain range (as long as it didn’t mean crossing paths with rattlesnakes along the trail). He always played as the camels in family Parcheesi games.

Erin attended Benson High School and later earned a gunsmithing certificate from Yavapai College. He was a machinist and gunsmith by trade and briefly ran a window and carpet-cleaning business with his brother before moving to Utah to work as a gunsmith for The Gunsmith at Sportsman’s Warehouse. After a few years he returned home and was able to enjoy the time he got to spend with his family, nieces and nephews.

A gentle soul, Erin loved with his whole heart and will be profoundly missed by his friends; his parents, JT and Kelly; his brothers, Ryan and Jordan; his sisters, Courtney, Carli, and Kay; and his grandparents, Judy and Sam, Glennis and Ed.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, February 16 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints at 381 N Pomerene Rd. with a viewing at 9 am, followed by a service at 10 am.

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