Nyal Merrell

Nyal Andrus Merrell, our mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and friend, passed away quietly in her sleep on October 24, 2016 at the Cove Point Assisted Living facility in Provo, Utah.  Mom's passing was related to issues of age and dementia/Alzheimer’s disease.  Her family is comforted in knowing she is now free of her earthly body and can now serve, love, and watch over her family and friends without limitation.

Mom was born in Lewisville, Idaho on August 5, 1926 to Newton Leslie and Zina Allen Andrus. She was raised in Lyman, Idaho where she worked on the family farm, learning the value of hard work.  She often talked about growing up during “the Great Depression” and was frequently teased by her children at her inability to throw anything away.  She certainly knew how to stretch the value of a dollar—cooking home cooked meals each day, sending her kids to school with a healthy lunch, and frequently sewing many of the outfits she and her children would wear.

Mother graduated from high school in Lyman and moved to Salt Lake City to attend LDS Business College for one year and then the University of Utah for two years.  When she decided to serve an LDS mission, she moved back to Idaho where she attended Ricks College while she prepared and waited for her mission call.

At the age of 21, she was called to serve in the Central States Mission, the first of four missions she would complete during her lifetime in the service of the Lord, whom she loved.  It was during her first mission she would meet a fellow missionary, a chance encounter that would turn out to be her future husband and our father, Charles Burdell Merrell.  She must have left quite the impression on him because after completing his mission six months before Nyal, he returned home and waited for her to return.  In Dad’s words, he “courted her” until he got her to say yes, but not before he asked permission from her father.  Dad and Mom were married on March 16, 1951 in the LDS Salt Lake Temple and began a long life together, raising eight children followed by serving three missions together as a couple.  They were thrilled to be of service to the people of Guatemala, Puerto Rico, and Anaheim, California.

Raising eight children was no easy task.  Because of Dad’s work in the government, the family lived several years in third world countries, where two of her children were born.  Mom was frequently left alone to manage eight young and often unruly children while dad fulfilled his governmental duties.  Occasionally she would sarcastically say to her adult children, “When you have YOUR eight children, you’ll see just how easy it is.”  We children have discussed numerous times how we have no idea how she managed to do it.

If being a mother of eight did not occupy enough of her time, Mom was also a devoted servant and disciple.  She was very active in the LDS Church and never let an opportunity pass her by to be of service to others, from Cub Scout leader to mission pianist to relief society presidency to temple worker to singing in the choir.  After a long day of household chores and child wrangling, she would often sit at the piano late at night and plunk out her alto part so she would be prepared for Sunday’s choir performance.  She incredibly fulfilled her other roles in life as well, such as devoted wife, adoring grandmother and great-grandmother, as well as caring daughter, sister, aunt, cousin, friend, and neighbor.  While Alzheimer’s/dementia in the end took its toll on Mom’s mind, those who knew her knew she had the most kind and gentle soul.

She is survived by six of her eight children (Durk, Jacki, Blair, Stuart, Quinn, and Barry), grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and many more who love her dearly.  She was preceded in death by her two brothers, two sisters, two of her children (Kevin and Kendra), and her loving husband.  As she got older and her health declined, she did not fear death; rather, she looked forward to a joyous family reunion she would have.

Mother has touched each of our lives with her amazing spirit, and her influence will be felt for generations to come.  We love her more than words can express.  Our hearts will have an empty spot until that wonderful day when we can see her once again and gaze into her loving eyes.

Our family is tremendously grateful to the aides, nurses, and staff at the Cove Point Assisted Living facility and Envision Hospice.  They took such loving care of our mother and treated her with dignity and compassion in the final months of her life.

Family and friends may call on Friday, October 28, 2016, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Sundberg-Olpin Mortuary (495 South State Street, Orem, Utah).  Memorial services will be held Saturday, October 29, 2016 at 11:00 a.m., viewing from 9:30-10:30 a.m. prior, at the Lakeridge LDS Stake Center (158 E 1100 S, Orem, Utah), with a graveside service and internment to follow at Orem City Cemetery.  All are welcome to attend and celebrate Nyal’s life.