Our beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend passed away peacefully December 14, 2013 of natural causes.
Merlene was born March 21, 1923 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Victor Peck and Zenna Cluff Peck. She grew up on a farm on the Provo bench, and then moved, like so many during the depression, around to various locations, including California, before finally settling down in the Salt Lake Valley. She graduated from South High in 1941, and married Bill Lodder October 15, 1949. Bill and Merlene started in Salt Lake City, Bill working for Continental Baking Company, and Merlene primarily as a mother and homemaker. They spent most of their life together in Holladay, in a house on Stratton Drive, where they raised thee of their five beloved children, and where her view of the Salt Lake Valley was one of her favorite delights. Merlene had an eye for beauty, and a love for all things beautiful. She was a talented artist in her own right, and left many prized paintings for her family to cherish for generations to come. Merlene was a fun-loving, spirited woman who never missed a chance to speak her mind. She was fiercely loyal, and treated her friends like her family, which is to say she loved them all. We love her, and will miss her greatly.
Merlene was survived by her sisters Marba Hale, Pauline Hailes (Jack), and Lydia Cawlishaw (Paul), brother Cluff Peck, sons Jerry Bischoff (Mary), Butch Lodder (Annette), Pete Lodder (Diane), daughter LuAnn Zundel (Mike), step daughter Pat Lodder, 17 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.
A celebration of her life will be held Friday, Dec. 20, 2013 at 2 p.m. in the Larkin Sunset Gardens Chapel, 1950 E. Dimple Dell Road (10600 So) where a viewing will be held Friday one hour prior to the service. Online condolences: www.larkincares.com
