Ralph Merrill

Ralph Merrill of Linden, Arizona died Friday, July 4, 2008 at the RTA Hospice and Palliative Care in Lakeside, Arizona from causes incident to his age. He was 89. Ralph was born on April 14, 1919 in Pima, Arizona to the late Gerald and Sara Lorena (Taylor) Merrill. He received his education in the Gila Valley, where he graduated from high school. As a teenager he began a career in boxing to help support his family. On May 21, 1937, at the age of 18, Ralph was married to Myrna Pearce for time and all eternity in the Mesa Arizona Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They most recently celebrated their 71st wedding anniversary. As a newlywed, Ralph worked for the Tovrea Meat Packing Company in Phoenix for about 5 years. He then went to work, as a truck driver, for the Southwestern Freight Company. In 1944, after 7 years of marriage, Ralph was drafted into The United States Navy and spent his service as an entertainer, boxing in the middleweight class, while stationed at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii and later in Guam. Immediately after receiving his honorable discharge from The Navy, Ralph resumed his career as a truck driver for Southwestern Freight Company, which later sold to T.I.M.E. - D.C. He continued to work there for an additional 36 years before retiring in 1981. During his long truck-driving career, he drove well over 3,000,000 miles! He was a member of The Teamsters Union Local #104. After his retirement he and his wife, Myrna, served a proselyting mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to the Portland, Oregon Mission, specifically catering to the needs of the Asian speaking people. A time they have always cherished. They enjoyed giving of their time in service to others and spent countless hours working at the Snowflake Cannery of The Church. They also served as Temple Workers in The Mesa Arizona Temple for 5 years. Ralph loved to be in the great out-of-doors and especially enjoyed hunting and camping. He was a true family man and was an example of goodness to all who called him: "Son", "Husband", "Dad", "Grandpa" and "Brother". Ralph Merrill is survived by: his wife, Myrna Merrill of Linden, AZ; children: Jean Lee of Lakeside, AZ, Merlene Eberly (Rick) of Linden, AZ, R. Keith Merrill (Darlene) of Snowflake, AZ, Lucinda "Cindy" Brown (Dudley) of Logandale, NV, Lavar Merrill (Brenda) of Linden, AZ, son-in-law, Sam Duncan of Linden, AZ; twin sister, LaRee Thomas of Zeniff, AZ; 37 grandchildren; 71 great-grandchldren and 1 great-great-granddaughter. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Joan Duncan in 2002; son-in-law, Floyd Lee in 2004; siblings: Madge Johnson, Jerald Merrill, Glenn "Rusty" Merrill, Loren Merrill, Lorena Peck, Arnold Merrill, Alden "Pete" Merrill; grandchildren: Ralph Albert Merrill in 1989, Shelley Spicer in 2001, Randy Hatch in 1981, Ryan Hatch in 1993; and a great-grandson, Bo Henry in 2001. Visitation will be 6:00 to 8:00 P.M., Wednesday, July 9, 2008 at Owens Mortuary - White Mountain Chapel, 320 N. 9th Street in Show Low, Arizona. The funeral service will be 10:00 A.M., Thursday, July 10, 2008 at the Show Low Stake Center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1401 W. Deuce of Clubs, (where Highway 260 meets Highway 60) in Show Low, Arizona with additional visitation 1 hour prior. Interment will follow at the Show Low Cemetery, where military honors will be rendered.