George Louis Merrill

July 12, 1920 - March 6, 2015

George Louis Merrill, age 94, passed away at his home in Pleasant Grove, Utah, on March 6, 2015. He was born July 12, 1920 in the pioneer town of St. David, Arizona, as one of 7 children of Byron Merrill and Elizabeth Taylor Goodman. He served as a missionary in the Eastern States Mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1939-1941. George graduated from Brigham Young University in 1942, and was then commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Navy where he served in World War II and the Korean Conflict, rising to the rank of Captain. George married Carma Flake of Snowflake, Arizona in the Mesa Temple on November 10, 1945. They moved to California where he received an MBA from Stanford University, followed by his teaching at USC. George spent much of his career working for the California State University and College system. George devoted his life to his family and to serving in a variety of leadership positions in the LDS Church, including counselor to bishops, high councilor, stake president, regional representative, and as the first president of the Texas Houston Mission from 1976-1979. Carma passed away in 1984, leaving George a widower for over 30 years. In his later years George served as a temple worker and in the bishopric of a young single adult ward. He is survived by his children, Byron R. (Tricia), of Mapleton; Kathy, of Pleasant Grove; Debra Swindall (Ken), of Payson; 8 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, March 13, 2015 at the Mount Mahogany 8th Ward Chapel, 1541 North 1300 West, Pleasant Grove. Friends may call at the church from 9:30-10:30 a.m. prior to services. Interment, Mt. Vernon Cemetery, Fair Oaks, California. Condolences may be sent online at www.bergmortuary.com.