Merrell Fenton Mckinstry Obituary (1914 - 2008)

CLEARFIELD- Merrell Fenton McKinstry, age 94, passed away on Thursday, April 17, 2008. He was born March 28, 1914 in Ogden, oldest child of James Merrell McBeth McKinstry and Ida Elizabeth Butterfield. He was raised and educated in Ogden, Utah and married Mildred Ruth Adams on October 13, 1935 with the marriage later solemnized in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. Early on, Merrell was known as a "dry-land Mormon" being baptized in the LDS Church with his second son. He was active in scouting, starting a winter camp for the Explorers, and he loved to go fishing and hunting with his boys. He served in three bishoprics as ward clerk and executive secretary and remained active until his death. As a young newlywed, he was a heavy equipment operator on the construction of the Pineview Reservoir. He began his career with the government, working at the bomb plant at the Ogden Arsenal and retired in 1978 with 38 years from Hill Air Force Base, as director of the disposal unit. Merrell is survived by his three sons, Ron (Judy), Glendale, AZ; Jim (Margo), Kaysville; and Mike (Vicki) Roy, and son-in-law, Bruce Crompton, Ogden. He is also survived by five siblings, Emmett McKinstry (Ogden); Connie Bartz, (Rohnert Park, CA), Elizabeth (Ben) Quinn, Ogden; Avon (Ray) Wiese, (Ogden) and Katherine Soelberg (Bakersfield, CA), 10 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his sweetheart Mildred, his only daughter Gaye and his two step-sisters, Blanche Cranor and Ellen Meikle. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 26, 2008 at 1:00 P.M. at Myers Mortuary, 845 Washington Boulevard, Ogden. Family and friends may call at Myers Mortuary on Friday, April 25th from 6 to 8 p.m. and from 11:45 to 12:45 p.m. prior to the services. Interment: Evergreen Memorial Park Condolences may be sent to the family at www.myers-mortuary.com VisitationMyers Mortuary - Ogden 100 Monroe Blvd. Ogden, UT 84404 April 25, 2008 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM ServiceMyers Mortuary - Ogden 1875 Monroe Blvd Ogden, Utah 84401 April 26, 2008 1:00 PM CemeteryMyers Evergreen Memorial Park 100 Monroe Blvd. Ogden, UT 84404 April 26, 2008