Rulon Merrill

RULON HARRIS MERRILL

1936-2015

Our loving husband, father, grampa, and friend to all, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family, after a courageous battle with prostate cancer, on January 6, 2016 at the age of 79.

He was born on February 10, 1936 to Millie Hardy Merrill and Horatio Harris Merrill in Las Vegas, Nevada. He married the love of his life Gay Maryon on September 5, 1958 in the Salt Lake Temple. He honorably served in the United States Army reserves for 8 years. He served an LDS mission to the Gulf States Mission in 1956. He loved the Lord and served in many church callings, including Mission President in Western Samoa where he lived for 3 years with his wife and young family to establish the seminary program in the Samoan Islands.

He served in countless positions within the LDS church. He served as ward clerk, building specialist, employment specialist; among his many callings his favorite calling was as a Sunday School Teacher.  He developed a lifelong passion for teaching. He was qualified, and taught, special Ed, troubled youth, and incarcerated young adults.  People were drawn to his warm personality, and he was generous with his talent to provide service to others.

Rulon graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelors of Science and Sociology Degree. He went on to graduate from BYU with a Masters Degree in History. He taught for 17 years in the LDS seminary system. In 1986 he returned to school for certification in Special Education and taught intellectually handicapped children in the Provo district.

Dad had a great passion for reading and music. He read the encyclopedia just for fun! He collected books, shoes, calendars, clocks, and read the Book of Mormon over 50 times! His love for travel and exploring history took him all around the world. We love our dad, and will greatly miss him every day.

He is survived by his loving wife Gay, 8 children, 19 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren, and one baby boy grandchild on the way. His children, Mindy Rogers, John Merrill, Andrea Prater, Dan Merrill (Elisabeth), Sarah Aguilar (Joseph), Angie Bell(Joe). He is preceded in death by children, Benjamin Harris Merrill (February 2, 1972-March 2, 1972) and Julie Merrill (Arpil 25, 1973-May 29, 1975).

Funeral Services will be held on Monday, January 11, 2016 at 11:00 am at the LDS Chapel located at 2301 E. Bengal Blvd. (7600 S.) in Cottonwood Heights, Utah. Friends may call Sunday, January 10, 2016, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at the Cannon Mortuary, 2460 E. Bengal Blvd. (7600 S.) and from 10:00-10:45 a.m. prior to service at the church. Interment Mountain View Memorial Estates.