Merrill Thompson Smedley

Merrill Thompson Smedley was born December 30, 1939 in Salt Lake City, Utah. He went to his reward on November 11, 2018. His father is Fred Streeper Smedley and mother LeNore Thompson Smedley. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving in many callings during his life.

He worked doing home delivery for Bountiful Dairy, then doing stocking and cashiering for a grocery store in Bountiful. He worked several years part time as a night manager for Dick’s Market in Centerville while working at Sperry Utah Engineering Lab. He started doing electronic assembly, then advanced, serving in many positions including as a Production Engineer and was the Manufacturing Documentation Manager when he retired. The company changed names 10 times during the time he worked there. When he retired in 2005 it was named L3 Communications.

Merrill is predeceased by his wife, father, mother, a baby sister Dixie Smedley and brother Dennis Fred Smedley.

He married Beverly Jean Miller in the Salt Lake Temple, they had seven children and were later divorced. His daughters are Dixie Smedley (David) Schaugaard, Shellie Smedley (Steve) Martin, Susan Ann Smedley (Ron) Stewart, Melissa Jean Smedley Miller and Katrina Lyn Smedley (Eric) Mitchell. Sons are Daren Merrill (Heather) Smedley and Eric Lamont (Tiffany) Smedley.

Merrill married Barbara Helen Mealer on June 15, 1985. They were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on May 15, 1987. His step-daughter is Elisa Christina Merrill (Christopher) Foster and his step-sons are Grant Hyde (Crystal) Merrill, Daniel Abraham “Danny” (Heidi) Loewen and Lincoln Isaiah (Tonje) Loewen. 

He and Barbara enjoyed going to the Shakespeare Festival in Cedar City, going to the cabin above Heber City and the 6 years spent serving at a branch of the church at the Wasatch Valley Rehabilitation Center near their home. 

He is survived by sisters, Carolyn Smedley (Perry) Jordan and Rebecca “Becki” Smedley (Paul) Toone, his brothers, Ross Thompson (Shirlene) Smedley and Kevin Lynn (Lauri) Smedley and sister-in-law Cindy Miller Smedley.  

Granddaughters are Kayla Schaugaard, Alta Martin, Amber Martin (Ben) Ferguson, Annabelle, London, Ashlee and Hailee Smedley, Dakota and Rorie Stewart, Lexia Johnson and Evie Mitchell. Step-granddaughters: Jessica Foster, Sadie, Mollie, Lucy, Selina and Amilia Loewen. Grandsons are Bryant (Jessica), Preston and Hunter Schaugaard, Colten Martin, Jonah, Bracken and Tyson Smedley, Tavin Miller, Justin Johnson, and Travis Mitchell. Step-grandsons: Bryce and Drew Merrill, Collin, Jason, Ethan and Trevor Foster, Jeremy and Asher Loewen, Xander and Ricky Mitchell. He is also survived by many nephews and nieces. 

The funeral service will be held on Monday, November 19th at 10:30 AM at the chapel located at 2245 East 3900 South, Salt Lake City. Friends and family are invited to visit Sunday, November 18th from 6 to 8 PM at Holbrook Mortuary, 3251 South 2300 East, Salt Lake City; and at the church Monday morning from 9:00 to 10:00 AM prior to the service. Interment will follow at the Bountiful City Cemetery at 1:30 pm.

Donations in his honor can be made to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints missionary fund or a charity of your choice.