Shirley Merkley

Shirley Merkley of Sandy, Utah passed away with family by her side on January 13, 2025. 

Shirley was born in Hayward, California, on July 23, 1934 to Ruth and Glen Rounds. The eldest of three children, she enjoyed poodle skirts, sock hops, ballet, and cashmere sweaters. After graduating from Oakland High School, Shirley left California to further her education at Brigham Young University where she obtained her Bachelor's degree in elementary education. This is where she met her eternal companion Clifton Davis Merkley on a blind date. They were married September 12, 1960 in the Salt Lake City Temple. They had their first two children in Utah before relocating to Broomfield, Colorado in 1965 where three more children were born. 

In December of 1979, Shirley began a new adventure when the family moved to Longmont, Colorado to a home on five acres. Shirley, a city girl who had married a farm boy from Utah, found herself caring for land, a barn, animals, and a large garden. The city girl with poodle skirts was now a homesteader in the country. Shirley was commonly found gardening, canning, baking bread or sewing. She found herself irrigating fields when Clifton was traveling for work and she would often muck stalls for horses boarding on the property. 

She loved to talk on the phone and visit her neighbors and friends. Shirley’s faith and church participation were very important to her. She held many service positions in her church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and enjoyed helping others in that capacity. While raising her children, Shirley could be found supporting them at various school events or activities. 

Shirley’s love for the ocean and California was always in her blood, but her love for the Colorado Rocky Mountains and the view of Longs Peak through the clear blue sky brought her great joy. During their early retirement years, Shirley enjoyed traveling with Clifton in their RV. She loved seeing the mountains and exploring areas of the United States they had not seen, as well as visiting her family. Shirley loved to sing, and enjoyed singing while cooking or canning. She loved singing hymns and The Star Spangled Banner. Shirley loved singing in her church choir, and later in life she never missed an episode of The Spoken Word, featuring The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square. 

Shirley loved her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren and would speak fondly of them to others. Shirley was preceded in death by her husband Clifton and her daughter-in-law Stephanie Merkley. She is survived by her children Susan (Lance) Henrie, Wendy (Kirk) Welker, Julie (Ken) Maxwell, Ryan Merkley and Lori (Tom) Garrard, her brother Jay Rounds and her sister Joanne Woodruff, 12 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren, and her favorite granddog Woody. 

The family would like to express deep appreciation to Sunrise of Sandy, Inspiration Hospice, Shirley’s church family, and all of the friends and professionals who have assisted Shirley during the sunset of her life. A special thank you goes to Susan, Shirley’s eldest daughter, who lovingly orchestrated her care and devotedly served her daily needs for the last 10 years. The family couldn’t have done it without her.

The funeral will take place on January 19, 2025, 2:30 PM in the chapel at Larkin Sunset Garden, 1950 E. Dimple Dell Rd, Sandy, Utah 84092. There will be a visitation 30 minutes prior to the service. To view the services live or watch recording please click the “Watch Services” button above.

Interment and graveside dedication will be on January 20, 2025, 1:00 PM at Maeser Fairview Cemetery, Vernal, Utah.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Humanitarian Aid Fund.