Merle Westover

Merle Gardner Westover, 91, died December 29, 2013 in Snowflake, Arizona. Merle was born in Taylor, Arizona to William Clark and Martha Alice Willis Gardner on January 22, 1922. She spent her early years there and in Linden, Arizona, as well as Mesa, Arizona for a time where her father worked on the Mesa Temple as a stone mason. The family moved back to Linden where she attended elementary school. She attended High School at the Snowflake Academy. She was raised with 3 brothers and 4 sisters. She married Martin Russell Westover October 27, 1939 in the Salt Lake Temple and they made their home in Joseph City, Arizona, raising their 8 children there. She was a lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served faithfully in many different capacities including Primary, the Young Women's organization, Relief Society as a 100% Visiting Teacher and 12 years as a worker in the Mesa Arizona Temple with her husband. Merle was a great homemaker, neighbor and daughter of God and taught her children excellent work ethics, dependability and to honor and respect their fellowmen. She is survived by 2 sisters: Gerry Willis and Leabeth McLaws and 7 children; 4 sons: Boyd (Marlene) Westover of Joseph City, Conley (Nancy) Westover of Flagstaff, Neil (Denice) Westover of Taylor, and Larry (Diane) Westover East Vale, California; 3 daughters: Analee Hunsaker of Vernon, Gloria (Ken) Murphy of Peoria, and Carolyn (Tom) Goodman of Flagstaff; 1 son-in-law, Joe Childers of Preston, Idaho; 30 grandchildren, 89 great grandchildren and 13 great-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Russell; a daughter, Alisa Childers; a daughter-in-law, Judy Westover, a son-in-law, Theo Hunsaker, and one great grandson-in-law, Carson Hatch. Family suggest that rather than sending flowers to make donations to the LDS Missionary Fund. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 am Saturday, January 4, 2014 at the Joseph City Chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A viewing will be held at 10:00 am prior to the services. Burial will follow at the Joseph City Cemetery. Services handled thru Owens Livingston Mortuary.