Donna Lee Fassett Merritt, the soul mate of Charlie Merritt, left this earth on Thursday, December 27, 2012, but not alone. She went to her heavenly home with the love of her family, friends, peers, and the people she served at ARC Gateway for 33 years. Donna was born in Beacon Falls, CT on April 9, 1954, to Helen "Woody" and Howard Fassett. She grew up on a farm and learned to work hard at an early age. In high school (1972), Donna went to South Africa on a Rotary scholarship to help the less fortunate. Her passion to serve others began here. She returned home to Connecticut and attended Southern Connecticut State College where she graduated with a B.S. degree in social work. She worked for a short time in Connecticut at St. Raphael's Hospital and then, in 1978, travelled to Pensacola to move closer to her college roommate, Kathy Robinson Vail. The rest is the best part of her legacy in Pensacola. With "sand in her shoes," Donna was hired at ARC Escambia (Gateway) in 1979 as a social worker. She fell in love with the people she served and met one of her favorite people, Leslie Merritt, who just happened to introduce her to his brother, Charlie Merritt. Charlie Merritt and Donna Fassett married on April 23, 1988. It was a joyous occasion uniting two lives with the same dedication and commitment to people with developmental disabilities. They lived a wonderful life full of friends, celebrations, and great times together. They were members of Cokesbury United Methodist Church. Thirty three years after her beginning at ARC Gateway, Donna lost the fight to cancer but she never lost her dedication and commitment to improving the lives of children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Her legacy is huge and her life may have ended here on earth but her love, dedication, and commitment to helping others will always be revered by everyone who was fortunate to share her life. Donna leaves behind her husband, Charlie Merritt; two stepsons, Donald and Robert Merritt; two grandchildren, Morgan and Jake Merritt. She is survived by her mother, Helen "Woody" Fassett; her sister, Cindy Reisha and her two children. To celebrate her life, services will be held on Saturday, January 5, 2013 at Olive Baptist Church. Visitation will be held 10:00am until a Memorial Service to begin at 12:00noon. Donna requested in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to ARC Gateway, 3932 N. 10th Ave., Pensacola, FL 32503. Food and meal donations can be made to ARC Gateway's six residential group homes by calling 850-434-2638. "I would like to thank the Pensacola Community for the outpouring of generosity, prayers, and concern for Donna and my family. Donna's dream and passion was to help people when they were in need and to help them to have a better life. We know that Donna has left this same passion in Pensacola because of the expression of love and kindness that you have shown my family." "Keep it going, Pensacola! You were Donna's love and passion. Keep her legacy in your hearts." Thanks, Charlie Merritt