In Loving Memory...

Charles Ammon Merrell

1934-2011

“Chuck”

Charles Ammon Merrell (Chuck) left this world April 29, 2011 after an astounding three year battle with Pancreatic Cancer. Throughout this experience, he exhibited great courage and a never-failing sense of humor. He has been the rock and foundation of his family for decades. Using his keen vision for the truly important matters of life as well as the knack for humor that characterized his life, he displayed a remarkable ability to calm a crisis with his sunny attitude. Living with Chuck and associating with him was a joy to all who knew him.

Chuck was born Jan. 18, 1934, the eighth child and fifth son of Ernest Leroy Merrell and Verna May Moffett, in Virden, New Mexico. They moved across the Gila River to Duncan, Arizona when he was only a few months old, and he was raised there. He joined the Navy in 1952 and served a four year term of enlistment, serving on the aircraft carrier, USS Midway, as a radioman when she took her world cruise in 1954 and in 1955 when she was part of the 7th Fleet in the Western Pacific. He met Patricia Lee Porter in San Diego, California, and they were married in the Arizona, Mesa Temple, June 4, 1957. They raised their four children, Kathleen Louise (Dave) Boyer, Judith Lynne (Hal) Fitzgerald, Steven Charles (Jeanne) Merrell, and Kent David (Elizabeth) Merrell in Oceanside, California.

Chuck was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He honorably fulfilled many callings in the church, including temple worker in the Bountiful and San Diego Temples, and as Bishop of the Cave Junction, Oregon Ward. He loved to help others. You could always count on him to be there whenever and wherever there was a need. He was released from his last calling only a few days ago when it became apparent that he could no longer serve.

He is survived by his wife, Patricia, his four children, 22 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, and two brothers, Evan (June) and David, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. He will be sorely missed here, but we know he gave a great report on his life and family when he arrived on the other side of the veil. Undoubtedly there was a wonderful family reunion as he re-joined his parents and other family members. We are comforted to know that we will all be re-united at a later date.

We appreciate all those who have been involved with caring for our husband and Dad. We wish to thank Dr. David Horsley, Dr. Jonathan Whisenant and Dr. Jane MacPherson for the loving care they have given Chuck during his illness. We also want to thank Debbie and the other aides of the Utah Hospice Specialists for their concern and the great service they gave.

Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Thursday, May 5, 2011 in the Bountiful 16th Ward Chapel, 720 E. 550 N. Friends may visit Wed. from 6-8 p.m. at Lindquist’s Bountiful Mortuary, 727 N. 400 E. and Thurs. from 9:45-10:45 a.m. at the church prior to services. Interment Lakeview Memorial Park, Bountiful.

Labor Days and Brownies

Today I had a very Lazy Labor Day.

I slept in until 10:00 am.

I watched more TV today than I have watched in the past six months combined:

Two (or was it three?) episodes of Bones,

The end of Never Been Kissed,

and, No Reservations.

I am in a real funk.

I feel like I am flatlined.

It hit me today during a commercial for Martha Stewart's TV show how very little creativity I am expressing right now - in any area of my life.

I can't even find something interesting to write about on my blog!

I'm not depressed, just a little empty. It's kind of like when you make brownies. You have this bowl of rich, creamy chocolate. After you've filled the pan with batter and it's tucked away in the oven, you still have the bowl (and spoon) with chocolate brownie batter on it (because no one ever puts all the brownie batter into the oven, right?!) So, what do you do? Wash it out? No! You lick that bowl and spoon until they are almost clean. And it's always kind of sad when there's no more brownie batter to lick clean! So, there you have it - I feel like a used up bowl of brownie batter! Nice. See what I mean... there's just nothing left!! I need to refill that bowl! But, how?!

Lest you think my weekend was dreary, fear not!

I did have a very fun time being silly with my girls.

I was happy that I was able to see most of my kids.

I loved being home with Dave, he takes such good care of me.

I was grateful for the time to rest.

My bowl is actually quite full, isn't it?!

How do you fill your "bowl"?

Evidence of a Mother's Love (?)

Saturday I gave one of my college-aged daughters my prized haircut/color appointment I had scheduled for me six weeks ago. I even paid for it.

I either really love my daughters, or I'm beginning to resort to desperate measures to get these girls hooked up with some handsome men!

You decide!

Like It?

Well, that was fun! Hope you enjoy the new look, I do! I wish you could see the entire background. There are three flowers and the one "missing" is purple (did I trick ya?!)

Today I am taking one day of the two weeks vacation I'm supposed to get during the summer! Attached to the upcoming 3-day weekend (in Utah the 24th is Pioneer Day-a State Holiday!)means I get a four day break! Ain't I smart? That's because I work at a school! This is the fourth summer I have worked without getting my full vacation time! Not because my AWESOME BOSS (emphasis added just in case he, or anyone he knows reads my blog!) won't give me the time off, but because the summer is one of the busiest times of the year for what I do! Fortunately, I can usually take some vacation time during the year, which provides me time for some quick get-aways with my hubby. Last year we went here for 4 nights. It was F.A.B.U.L.O.U.S! I would go back in a heartbeat; unfortunately, the $ are a little dry right now!(probably because we spent 4 nights at the Hotel Del last year!) Maybe one day...

My house will be full this weekend - college girls headed home. It will be fun. Wish everyone could be here - now, THAT's a houseful and a Party! I guess we are going to see Inception. Shelby says it's the best movie she has ever seen - stay tuned for my report! Laura finishes up Drivers Ed this week and is looking forward to getting her drivers license on Monday! Yikes! Consider yourself forewarned! Dave has not started up in Wyoming yet, probably the first of August. It's nice to have him home working around the house! Although today, my day off, he is actually working at the office here in Salt Lake!

It is now 12:00 noon and I am still in my pjs! How cool is that?! But, the sunshine is being wasted so I'm bidding you farewell for now!

Bye! Happy Summering!!

ps - I have tried to insert spaces between the paragraphs, but the dumb Old Editor is not letting me. Come On Blogger, work with me here. Puhlease.....

CAN I just say....

I LOVE BEING HOME.

Our home is really quite modest. The cat stinks up the laundry room. The carpet needs replaced (vacuuming might help) and the various flat surfaces in my home would all benefit from a good dusting cloth. But, none of that matters, because - I love being HOME!

I wish I could be at home more. I work a LOT of hours outside of my home. If I were home more my house would be cleaner and "Homey-er".

I was blessed to be at HOME for all the years when my kids were HOME.

Our HOME is virtually empty now. All six kids have moved on. Dave and I enjoy rattling around inside our now empty home, occasionally bumping into each other. Or the dog. Or the cat. But no kids.

Dinners are very quiet and cozy!

But, despite it's quietness and emptiness there is really nowhere I would rather be. Hawaii? Well... maybe! But, I always (eventually!) love "coming HOME"!

Life...


Life is amazing.

Not just the miracle of birth - that's only the beginning.

But the complexities, the twists and turns that life  

Custom designs for each of us.

The determination of overcoming great odds.

Of being knocked down, only to get back up again.

The beauty of lasting love and commitment.

The strength of values passing from one generation to another.

Examples of loving service rendered to those in need.

The journey of life, friends you meet, experiences you share,

And the kindness and compassion experienced along the way.

Yeah, there are bad times, dark times too.

Even desperate moments of unshared tears have their value

In some almost unseen way.

Life is short; too fragile to take for granted,

Too complicated to not share,

Too precious to be misunderstood.

So, smile and see the good

Of all that surrounds you

Feel the sweetness of a child's smile,

The warmth of a friend's embrace.

Life is wonderfully

Amazing!