Obituary: MERRILL, DON

Don R. Merrill1930 ~ 2013"My dearest darling Joan, it is with a heavy heart that I leave you today for a new missionary assignment. I will be laboring on the other side of the veil and will miss you terribly. A highlight of my new mission will be building our eternal home, which I promise you will have a finished basement and a dining room large enough to accommodate our entire family."Don Robertson Merrill passed away peacefully January 9, 2013 surrounded by his loving family. Don was born October 23, 1930 to Leland Hale and Clarrissa May Pratt Merrill. Don graduated from Granite High, served a mission to Samoa and in 1953 married his sweetheart Joan Bird. Don lived a life in service to his Heavenly Father and his family including his mission to Samoa, building LDS chapels around the country, a couple's mission to Argentina and as a temple worker for 15 years in both the Jordan River and Salt Lake temples. Don is survived by his wife, Joan; and all eight children, Leslie Arbuckle, Diane (Randy) Gremlich, Jolene Merrill, Shauna (Francis) Longstaff, Carolyn (Joel) Bishop, Ruth Merrill, David (Susan) Merrill, Russell (Nancy) Merrill; 34 grandchildren; 37 great-grandchildren; and three sisters and two brothers. He is preceded in death by one brother and one sister.The Merrill family would like to express their deepest appreciation to the Neuroscience CCU and Trauma Team at IMC for their tender care.Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 12, 2013, at 1:00 p.m. at the Hyland Lake Ward, 981 E. Revere Circle. Viewings will be at the church Friday evening from 6-8 p.m. and Saturday from 12:00-12:45 p.m. Interment: Redwood Memorial Estates.Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.jenkins-soffe.com