Esther R. Merchant 89, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother passed away on Monday January 22, 2007 at Whittier Rehab & SNC.   Esther was born in DeRuyter, N.Y. on December 11, 1917 and was the daughter of the late David and Ruth Ames Warren.  She attended school in DeRuyter and helped her father on the family dairy farm.  In 1935 she married Stanley Harris and together they had six children.  In 1950 she married Clifford Merchant and they had two children.  In 1954 she moved to Chatham, NY.    She was the manager of the Snack Bar at the Jamesway Department Store in Hudson for several years, and prepared meals at the Glass Bar and, in retirement, volunteered at the Nutrition Center at the Reformed Church in Chatham.  An excellent cook and baker, her family claims she made the world's best chocolate chip cookies.   Esther was a member of the Chatham United Methodist Church and later in life attended the Bible Baptist Church in Ghent, NY.  She was devoted to her family all of her life.  Her family came first.  She was always willing to listen and help her children whether they needed help with a problem, someone to talk to or care for in an illness.    Survivors include her loving daughters and son-in-law Beverly and Donald Murdock of Chittenango, NY and Arlene Pulver of Nassau, NY; her devoted sons and daughter-in-law's Robert and Cindy Harris of Spruce Pine, NC; David and Mary Ann Harris of Ghent, NY; Clifford and Debra Merchant, Jr. of Chatham, NY; and Rohn Merchant and Terri Dizacomo of Chatham, NY; her loving sister Martha Flaig of Chatham NY; her adoring grandchildren Bradley and Lisa Fostviet of New Woodstock, NY; Bruce and Joanne Fostviet of DeRuyter, NY; Jennifer (Murdock) and Eric Smith of Litchfield, NH; Lori (Murdock) and Dan Healy of North Syracuse, NY; Michael and Faith Harris of Canastota, NY; Deborah (Harris) and Claude (Butch) Fralix II of Las Vegas, NV; Christopher Evans of Tampa, FL; James Dorward of  Castleton, NY Cathy (Coe) Tator of Chatham Center, NY; Yvonne (Harris) Ewasick of Ghent, NY; Donald Coe of Hudson, NY; James Harris of Ghent, NY; David Harris, Jr. of Greeley, CO; Mark Harris of Chatham, NY; Melissa Merchant of Philmont, NY; Andrew Merchant of Chatham, NY;  Andrea Merchant of Philmont, NY;  Scott Merchant of Chatham, NY; Brandon Merchant of Chatham, NY; and Ryan Merchant of Chatham, NY;  28 Great Grand Children and many nephews and nieces.   She was predeceased by her first husband Stanley Harris; her second husband Clifford R. Merchant, Sr.; her son Warren E. Harris; her granddaughters Lori Fostviet, Judi Dorward, Terri Dorward, Sherri Dorward, Denise Dorward and Trisha Merchant; and her son-in-law Charles Pulver. Family and friends are invited to attend visitation on Friday January 26th. from 6 . to 9pm at French, Gifford, Preiter and Blasl Funeral Home 25 Railroad Avenue, Chatham, New York, and a services at the Funeral Home at 11am on Saturday January 27th.  Interment will be at Hillcrest Cemetery in DeRuyter, NY in the spring.   Those who wish to remember Esther in a special way may send a contribution to American Cancer Society.  For directions or to send an online condolence visit www.frenchblasl.com.