Richard Leonard Merrill

Our beloved husband, father, brother, grandfather, great-grandfather great-great-grandfather and friend, Richard Leonard Merrill, 95, returned to his heavenly home on June 2, 2024, surrounded by family, in his home in St. George, Utah.

Richard was the second child and first son of 10 children born to Leonard Mouritsen Merrill and Edith Marie Smith in Tooele, Utah.  

On August 4, 1948, Richard married his high school sweetheart, Velma Porter, in the LDS Idaho Falls Temple.  He taught school for a while then worked for Safeway for 17 years.  He was transferred to St George in 1960, and in 1965 he left Safeway and started Merrill’s Carpet & Tile.

He had a great love for music. He played the saxophone in a band for several years and sang in the ward choir and various barbershop quartets.

Richard and Velma were able to take many vacations throughout the world, including Hong Kong, Hawaii, Bahamas, and various European destinations.  His favorite memory was the trip to Jerusalem.  He really enjoyed this traveling and he and Velma were often able to take one or more of the children with them.

His family and the Gospel of Jesus Christ were the center of his life, and Richard and Velma would attend as many events in the lives of their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren as they could, including baptisms, weddings, sports events, and award ceremonies.

Richard was a lifetime, faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many capacities including gospel doctrine teacher, bishop, non-transient bishop, and ministering brother. From 1993-1995, Richard and Velma served in the Texas, Corpus Christi Mission, where he was the Branch President in the small town of Beeville, Texas. They also served two missions in the St. George Member Locator Mission, one of which was in the capacity of Mission Coordinators.

In 2015, his sweetheart Velma passed, leaving a giant hole in his heart. His lonely days ended when he again fell in love and married Connie Miller Stewart on September 9, 2016. Although their time together in mortality was brief, they filled those years with joy and lasting memories.

Richard is survived by his wife Connie Merrill; children David (Lynda), Jerry (Jean), Deloy (Sharon), Belinda (Keith) Hanks, Nadine (Dan) Diddle, Rick (Shelley), Casandra (Lanny) Ericksen, and Alan (Rondell); son-in-law Doug Miner; stepchildren Wendy (Kelly) Parker, Tim (Roma) Stewart, Molly (Scott) Hixson, Daniel (Julie) Stewart, John (Amy) Stewart,  Amy (Scott) Hirschi, and Adam Stewart; siblings, Donna Young, Nathan Merrill, Willard Merrill, Kenneth Merrill, and Colleen Durrant; 66 grandchildren, 96 great-grandchildren, and 5 great-great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his wife Velma Porter Merrill; parents, Leonard and Marie Merrill; siblings Leona Whitworth, LeRoi Merrill, Dorothy Clements, and Wanda Hatch; infant son Layne; daughter Lanette Miner; stepson Chris Stewart; and grandsons Brian Lundgren and Justin Lundgren.

Funeral services will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 550 East 700 South, St. George, Utah, on Monday, June 10th, at 11:00 am. A viewing will be held Sunday from 6:00 to 7:30 pm at Hughes Mortuary, 1037 East 700 South, St. George, Utah, and prior to the services Monday from 9:30 to 10:30 am, at the church. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Richard's life.