Douglas Merkley (1925 - 2015)

Born 9 Sep 1925 in Vernal, Uintah, Utah, United States

Ancestors

Died 8 Nov 2015 at age 90 in Wasatch County, Utah, United States

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Timeline

1925 Sep 09:
Birth of Douglas L. Merkley in Vernal, Uintah, Utah. He was the son of Asher Merkley and Birda Lewis.

1928 Nov 25:
Birth of sister, Mary Kathyleen “Kathy” Merkley in Vernal, Uintah, Utah.

1947 Nov 20:
Marriage of Douglas Merkley to Rhea Huber in the Salt Lake LDS Temple of the Church of the Latter Day Saints in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah.

1949 Mar 10:
Birth of daughter, Maureen Merkley in Logan, Cache, Utah.

1968 Mar 05:
Death of daughter, Maureen Merkley in American Fork, Utah, Utah. She was buried at the Midway Cemetery in Wasatch County, Utah. MEMORIAL ID: 176058887. She was 18 years old. Survivors include three brothers and one sister, Chris Merkley, Kevin Merkley, Robert Merkley, and Marle Merkley, all of Heber.

1972 May 08:
Death of mother, Birda Lewis Merkley in Vernal, Uintah County, Utah. She was buried at the Vernal Memorial Park in Vernal, Uintah, Utah in Plot: Vernal_BC3.00_L1_S5, MEMORIAL ID: 28609583. She was 72 years old.

1974 Feb 14:
Death of father, Asher Merkley in Vernal, Uintah, Utah. He was buried at the Vernal Memorial Park in Vernal, Uintah, Utah in Plot: Vernal_BC3.00_L1_S4, MEMORIAL ID: 28609231. He was born July 19, 1899 in Vernal, Uintah, Utah and was the son of Nelson Merkley (1857–1924) and Keturah Peterson (1867–1950).

1998 Feb 09:
Death of sister, Virginia Merkley Hacking Giles in Vernal, Uintah, Utah. She was buried at the Maeser Fairview Cemetery in Vernal, Uintah, Utah in Plot: Maeser_L409_S2, MEMORIAL ID: 28608228. She died from cancer. She was 76 years old. She worked as a Telephone Operator and a Business Office Supervisor at Mountain Bell. Relatives include: husband, Asher; daughter, Kathyleen Ahrnsbrak; son, Douglas; and son, Bryce.

2002 Nov 28:
Death of sister, Mary Kathyleen “Kathy” Merkley Ahrnsbrak McOmber in Utah. She was buried at the Vernal Memorial Park in Vernal, Uintah, Utah. She died from congestive heart failure. She was 74 years old.

2015 Nov 08:
Death of Douglas L. Merkley in Wasatch County, Utah. He was buried at the Midway Cemetery in Midway, Wasatch, Utah. MEMORIAL ID: 154843904. He was 90 years old.

2015 Dec 11:
Death of wife, Rhea LaVaur Huber Merkley in Heber, Wasatch, Utah. She was buried at the Midway Cemetery in Midway, Wasatch, Utah. MEMORIAL ID: 156034340. She was 88 years old. She was born June 6, 1927 in Lapoint, Uintah, Utah and was the daughter of Leroy Huber (1897–1988) and Vera Johannah Taylor (1908-1990).

Biography

Douglas L. Merkley, 90, passed away Sunday, November 8, 2015, in Heber City, Utah of causes incident to age. He was born September 9, 1925 in Vernal, Utah to Asher and Birda Lewis Merkley. He graduated from Uintah High School. He served his country during World War II as a U.S. Army combat infantryman in the Philippines. 

Douglas married Rhea Huber November 20, 1947 in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. He graduated from Utah State University with a bachelor of science degree and later earned a master degree from Brigham Young University. He was employed for 35 years by the Wasatch County School District as a vocational agricultural teacher, counselor, assistant superintendent and superintendent. He was always a champion of education and life-long learning. He enjoyed working with his students and was able to mentor many of them beyond high school. He served as president of the Utah Vocational Teachers Association, and president of the Utah Society of School Superintendents. 

He was active in the LDS church,—serving in many different leadership positions including bishop. He and his wife Rhea served in the California, Sacramento Mission from 1988-1989. He was a scoutmaster for 15 years and was awarded the Silver Beaver by the BSA.

Douglas was devoted to his wife of 68 years and his family. Some of his proudest moments were with his family as they achieved their professional and spiritual goals in life. He loved to go fishing, hunting, and camping with them. He encouraged all those around him to “stop and smell the roses.” He was a kind and courteous man whose positive spirit will be deeply missed by those who knew him. 

Douglas is survived by his wife Rhea, children Chris (Kathleen), Kevin (Patricia), Robert (Jennifer) and Marie (Frost) Steele, 17 grandchildren, and 18 great-grandchildren, and a brother, Bryce (Merlene) Merkley. He is preceded in death by his parents, a daughter Maureen, and his sisters Virginia Hacking and Kathleen McOmber.

The family would like to express their sincere thanks to his hospice nurses and staff. A special thank you to Lisa Nelson for her countless hours of selfless service!

A viewing will be held Friday, November 13th, at the 3rd Ward LDS Chapel, 200 East 400 South in Heber City, from 6-8 p.m. Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 14th, at 11 a.m. at the 3rd Ward LDS Chapel, 240 East 400 South, with a viewing prior to the service from 9:30-10:30 a.m. Condolences maybe shared online at probstfamilyfunerals.com

Sources

• [(https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/176058887/maureen-merkley)]

• [(https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/28609583/Birda-Merkley)]

• "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J1YQ-DX9 : 20 May 2014), Birda Merkley, May 1972; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).

• [(https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/28609231/Asher-Merkley)]

• "United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, 1980-2014," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKP9-5FFF : 25 October 2016), Birda Lewis Merkley in entry for Virginia Merkley Hacking Giles, Utah, United States, 11 Feb 1998; from "Recent Newspaper Obituaries (1977 - Today)," database, GenealogyBank.com (http://www.genealogybank.com : 2014); citing Salt Lake Tribune, The, born-digital text.

• "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2B1-1P85 : 10 March 2017), Maureen Merkley, 1968; Burial, Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States of America, Midway Cemetery; citing record ID 176058887, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.

• [(https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/67092337/Mary-Kathyleen-McOmber)]

• [(https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/154843904/Douglas-L.-Merkley)]

• "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2S3-VJ6M : 11 July 2016), Rhea LaVaur Huber Merkley, 2015; Burial, Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States of America, Midway Cemetery; citing record ID 156034340, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.