Hayden & Ben

Hayden & Ben with Baby     , Devere, Arva, Tifani, Paul Grandp & Grandma

Bentley Ryker Ware

Great Great Grandma with Baby

Taylor & Adam

Taylor & Adam

Kimberly & Leith

Kim & Leith

Coty

Makenzie & Taliah

Trevor

Grandpa and Grandma,

I remember a lot about you. I remember that there was always laughter at you
house. There was always joy and love and peace. Not to be confused with peach and
quiet. Just a feeling of peace and safety. Your home has always been filled with
family and it's always been obvious that is where your heart is. With your family.
 When I think of the scripture of standing in holy places, to me, that is your
home.

I remember coming down for a reunion when we were little. We put Kevin on a bench
and used food storage to play hospital. He was the patient. Grandpa happened to
come down. He was so maaaaaad. Food storage was to be eaten. Not for anesthesia.
Your basement was where Lauralee brought me food when I was so sick. Where
Sheralee and I did puzzles. Where I watched old black and white movies with you.
I still love black and white movies.

I remember all the cousins playing in the backyard between softball games. Grandpa
flooding the yard. That was so fun. Way better than the sprinklers we used in
Alaska. Sparklers at 4th of July. Grandma giving us bazooka bubble gum.

Food. Lots and lots of food! I don't care how many people invaded, I mean stopped
to visit, there was always plenty of food. And every single person had their very
favorite. Even if many trips were made to the store. My favorite was "squeaky
cheese" aka cheese curds. And there was always room at the inn. No matter what
time of the day or night it was. And visitors never went to bed without being fed
first. And the homemade goodies! Obviously I really like to eat.

I remember Sunday mornings and all the family, and I mean ALLLL of the family
getting ready for church. It must have been a family reunion. I loved that so
much. To me it was what the song Families Can be Together Forever was all about.

I remember the road trip up the California coast. Big band music blaring, air
conditioner blasting, Grandpa's finger wagging, Grandma's head just a-bobbing from
beneath her sweater. I remember you two smiling for the whole day as you watched
and waited for Sheralee and I to get off the rides at Disneyland. And Grandpa
putting his feet up on the wall at the end of the day because they hurt so bad. It
always stuck with me that my joy was more important than the pain that I never knew
about until we got back to the hotel room. You have always put others first.
Grandma, I've never heard you say one bad word about anyone. You've always been
able to find the good in people.
 
I remember the recent trip to California when Andrew got married. You two have
 always loved to go along for the ride and we had fun. I remember Grandma sitting
on her walker waiting for Grandpa to get out of one of the many shops in San
Fransisco. We waited and waited and he finally came back out with a bag of
Grandma's favorite candy. That she then shared with everybody. I think this
 irritated Grandpa a little.
 
Something that has always awed me is how Grandma has never forgotten a single
birthday, anniversary, or Christmas. The $2 bills in the birthday cards and
favorite candy at Christmas. And the big ole box or Idaho Spuds!! I will never
forget how I always felt in your home. Loved. I asked Coty and Kenzie what they
would like to do if we ever get to go on a vacation again and the first thing they
said was to go to your house. Not the theme parks, the state parks, the national
 parks. They want to come to your home.
 
McKenzie remembers the pictures of a temple in every room in the house and getting
sick from the cheese curds. Coty said that what he remembers most about coming out
last time was the quiet at your house. Well, that can't be right. Merrill's
aren't quiet. But there is a peace in your home that brings peace and quiet to a
persons soul. And that is hard to find in today's world. The only other place I
feel it is at the temple.
 
Grandpa and Grandma, I love you. You are a blessing and a joy to your posterity
and there are a lot of us. I am honored to be a part of your family. If I had to
describe you each in one word...Christlike. Happy Birthday!! All the way from
 Alaska. We love you.
 
The Earll Family

TJ & Melissa

TJ & Melissa with Rhya, Ella, Piper & Micah 

TJ, Micah, Rhya , Ella 

TJ

Ella and Melissa

TJ & Melissa

TJ & Piper

Kelly & Mary

Kelly & Mary

Raiger

Porter

Logan

Kenzie

Tia

My favorite memories of Grandpa and Grandma are many. One of the earliest is getting a bath in the kitchen sink from Grandma, it was a sad day when I no longer fit in the sink. Another early memory is snuggling into Grandma's soft "wings" and listening to her humming, she always seemed to be humming. Cooking included humming, watching TV included humming, cleaning included humming and watching us play involved humming. I also remember the summer she took my sisters, Kaylynn and I swimming at the Burley pool all day for three days. And didn't apply sunscreen once. There were four burnt exhausted girls running around the house half naked yelling because she had put vinegar on our backs to try and take away the heat. To this day I can't use vinegar without thinking of Grandpa with the newspaper up past his ears to avoid seeing us running laps around the house half naked. I remember Grandpa making each of us little individual loaves of bread and how special it made me feel that he had made a loaf just for me. I remember playing in the flooded back yard on irrigation days. I remember using the new twin air mattresses as stair sleds and the new queen air mattress at the bottom of the stairs as a crash pad. I remember sitting on the back porch eating watermellon and spitting the seeds in the grass and then being confused when Grandpa told us not to spit seeds in the grass. Who wouldn't want free watermellon? I remember at least 3 choices of ice cream (chocolate, vanilla or stripes) in the freezer at all times. I remember many nights spent listening to stories recorded by Grandpa and Grandma, I still like listening to them. I remember many years of Thanksgiving dinners and eating way too much food, mostly Grandma's rolls. I remember checking my height on the closet every time I visited (I still like being measured), being button measured, tricked into face measuring kisses and love spanks and Grandpa trying endlessly to teach us to whistle his tricky little tunes. I still love being asked if my name is Stillfriggins. I remember walking into the Celestial room for the first time and seeing Grandpa and Grandma and all my family and thinking, "This is what Heaven is like." Mostly I will always cherish the feeling of unconditional love everytime I came or left and got a hug. If you are with the Merrill's hugs are not optionional. I love how they have managed to create such a close knit family despite the great distances between everyone. I will always remember the strong spirit that permeates their house. They are exceptionally special people and I am proud to call them my grandparents.
Love, Tia.

Sheralee

Sheralee

Sheralee Baby picture

Sheralee 10

Graduation from Ricks

In Capri

Graduation from USU--Go Aggies

BSU Graduation.  Finally finished!  Woohoo!

Sheralee

Mom and Dad,

I have watched you for many years.  I have always admired you for your dedication to the Gospel and to your family.  There is nothing more important to you than those two things. I am very thankful to you for your example of living the Gospel and enduring to the end. As I think through my life I remember the times you gave of your time to help others. Although money was always tight we always had fun things to do. I loved living on the farm growing up. There were so many fun things to do. I remember Dad having us put our feet on his and dancing around the room.  Mom always made anything we were supposed to take for an activity look extra special.  Our friends were always welcome in our home. Parties were always fun too with food and games. Sing-a-longs around the piano were always fun. Decorating our Christmas tree was really fun too. Holidays were always special.

As I grew to be an adult I appreciated your advice on my questions about which university to attend, what area of study, serving a mission, and numerous other concerns faced by young adults. I thank you for your continued support in my life and your unconditional love. Thanks for your support during the good times as well as the bad times. And thanks for the assistance and support you gave me as I was developing my testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It continues to grow and strengthen, but I will be forever grateful for being raised in a home where the gospel was lived and loved. I love you two. Happy birthday!