John David Merrell, Jr.

Dave, 80, died January 17, 2023, after a long battle with dementia.

He was born on June 19, 1942, in Brigham City Utah, the son of J.D. Merrell Sr. and Marian Alice Nielsen Merrell.

Dave graduated from Box Elder High School in the class of 1960. He joined the Army National Guard and following that he attended Utah State University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering. He went to work at Thiokol working on the Space shuttle solid rocket motors retiring after 30 years. His favorite pastime was flying in his gliders and airplanes, the last a 172 Cessna. He also spent years skydiving, belonging to a team that competed in the world competitions in Europe. He loved golfing and fishing. He was on the Box Elder Search and rescue scuba diving team.

He married Doe Becker and was later divorced. He then married Joye Neilson Page in 1997 and lived for a short time in Willard Utah and then moved to Perry Utah.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a younger brother William Ray.

Surviving are, in addition to his wife, are his daughter Misty Ann Merrell Gunsay (Metin) and his eight grandchildren along with his stepson Jeffrey David Page (Nicole). He is also survived by his sisters Judy Ann Merrell Hartvigsen (James), Jana Dee Merrell Chase (Mike) and many nieces and nephews.

A visitation will be held Saturday, June 4, 2023, June 4, 2023 from 11:00-11:50am followed by a Celebration of Life Memorial Service at 12:00 noon at Myers Mortuary 205 South 100 East, Brigham City, UT. Interment will follow in the Brigham City Cemetery where military honors will be accorded.

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