Marjorie Duke Merkley
-- 1920 ~ 2011 --

Marjorie Duke Merkley was born January 17, 1920. She passed from this life on August 8, 2011 in Cedar Hills, Utah. She was born to Lyman Duke and Jennie Olivene Brown Duke in Stockmore, Utah. Her parents moved the family to Heber City, Utah where she attended school and graduated from high school as the salutatorian of her class.

On June 29, 1942 she married Loyal Ross (Merk) Merkley in the Salt Lake Temple. After World War II they moved back to Heber City for a short time then moved to American Fork, Utah where they raised their family. Merk worked at Geneva Steel until he retired. Her beloved husband died in 2003 at age 93.

She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and loved working in the Relief Society, Primary and with the ward and stake music. She loved Heavenly Father and worked diligently in her callings.

She loved to play the piano and taught piano lessons to many children in Heber City and also in American Fork for many years. She was a wonderful cook, she sewed and crocheted afghans for the new babies and made many beautiful quilts for her grandchildren. She dearly loved getting her family together for family home evenings, reunions and parties. She always wanted her family around her.

She is survived by her children: Janice (Kenneth) Crookston of West Valley, Utah; Annette (Ben) Speelmon of Terreton, Idaho; Marsha (Lynn) Powell of Ocean Shores, Washington; Stephen (Sharee) Merkley of Herriman, Utah; Brenda (John) Martin of Anchorage, Alaska; Sheila (Cary) Son of American Fork; brothers, Burton Duke of Gilroy, California; Ramon (Joyce) Duke of St. George, Utah; sister, Merliyn (Fay) McGuire of Heber City, Utah; sister-in-law, Gayla Duke of Tempe, Arizona; 24 grandchildren, 53 great grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Loyal Ross Merkley, a son, Bruce Lyman Merkley, a daughter, Ruth Merkley, her parents, two sisters, two brothers, two grandsons, Davis Speelmon and Anthony Powell and a grandson-in-law, Kirt Mendenhall.

The family would like to express appreciation to the staff of The Charleston and to Vista Care Hospice Service for their thoughtfulness and loving care of our mother.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 13, 2011 at 12:00 p.m. at the American Fork 29th Ward Chapel, 673 East 300 North, American Fork. Family and friends may call on Friday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Warenski Funeral Home, 1776 North 900 East, American Fork and also Saturday morning from 11:00 to 11:45 a.m. prior to services. Interment, American Fork City Cemetery.