H.B. Merkley

1935 ~ 2022

He was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Nov.19, 1935 and attended Greenway Elementary and Greenway middle school.

In Calgary he attended King George School, University Demonstration School, Western Canada High School and Crescent Heights High School. He was awarded a Flight School scholarship and earned pilot wings given to him by the Royal Canadian Air Cadets a subsidiary of the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Merkley became a student at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah studying psychology, speech communication and business administration and graduated in 1958. While in Provo, he worked for KOVO. In the summertime, in Calgary, he worked for CFCN and CKXL radio. At BYU he was a member of the Associated Men’s Students’ council.

While at BYU he began to be aware of his cousins and other members of his extended family. His first cousin once removed was N. Eldon Tanner. His uncle A. John Clarke was the principal of Brigham Young High School. His aunt Ada Dyer’s son was Jack Gibb, his cousin, one of the luminaries of the Western Behavioral Sciences Institute in La Jolla, California. His cousin Bill Dyer, at BYU became the Dean of the College of Business. After living in Hollywood, H.B. went on an LDS mission to Hawaii, which was one of the great things he enjoyed in this life.

In the mid-sixties he lived in Salt Lake City, got a masters degree and then a Ph.D. from the University of Utah, having studied counseling, education psychology, management and administration. His uncle Marion G. Merkley became the State Superintendent of Public Instruction for Utah. In the sixties H.B. was the Dean of the Radio and TV and Speech department of Mount Royal College in Calgary, and then was a professor of administration at the University of Saskatchewan.

His cousin James. B. Mayfield, was a political science prof. at the University of Utah. His cousin Alva Merkley became a dean in the College of Education at BYU. His other cousin Larry Merkley besides being a top university administrator at the U. of Lethbridge was also a Stake President. His other cousin, David Merkley Mayfield was also a Stake President. His uncle Calvin Merkley was a mission president. His cousin Sybil Clarke Ferguson was the founder of Diet Center. His cousin Keith Merkley Norton was on the USS Missouri when the Japanese surrender was signed.
For many years H.B. was a consultant to CEO’s. At KCNR he ran a talk show in Salt Lake City.

This is getting good isn’t it. Especially since H.B. was not one bit notorious. Speaking of Merkleys, his third cousin Jeff Merkley is the junior U.S. Senator from Oregon. His first cousin once removed is David Harris a two star USAF general. His son Dan Merkley is the Director and GM of the Olympic Village at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio.

His other son Dave, an artist, lives in San Fran. His daughter Erika lives in Utah. His other daughter Erin, an RN, lives in Durango. His other son John, an artist, lives in Salt Lake City. His other daughter Johanna, an RN, lives in Los Angeles. His youngest son Steven lives in Salt Lake City. So that’s it. His sister, Ruth Crane of Tacoma died in 2016. His parents Harold and Anne and his brother Harold died a few years ago. H.B. is married to Roberta Lee Haunani Pule of Kohala, Hawaii.

A funeral service will be held, Saturday July 9 at 11:00 am at the Nineteenth Ward, 225 W 500 N, Salt Lake City, UT 84103. A viewing will take place two hours prior to the service. Interment and dedication of the grave will follow at Salt Lake City Cemetery, 4th Avenue and N Street. You can watch the recorded service by clicking on the watch service button above.


Guestbook/Condolences

Dan, ErIn, John and Joanna: Brent and I send our heartfelt condolences to each of you. It is never easy to lose your Dad. We have a lot of memories watching each of you grow up. We are one of the few left in the ward. There are only 5 others. If you are ever in the area we would love to see you. All of you are leading productive lives which is an honor to your parents. We send our love to each of you. Brent and Marie


- Brent and Marie Popp

Bless you Roberta


- Winston Lee