Death info on Georgiana L Fuller

Georgiana Lewis McClelland Fuller was one of Birda's older sisters.

She also went by "Georgie", "Georgia", and "Georgianna".

Photo from the personal albums of Bryce Merkley

According to this document (and family records) the following dates apply:

BIRTH: 12 July 1889/1890- Midway, Wasatch, Utah

DEATH: 10 Aug 1961- Oakland, Alameda, California

She was 71 years old when she died.

SOURCE: Oakland Tribune 1961, Aug 11, p.41E

Obituary transcribed:

McCLELLAND, Georgia L., at rest August 10, 1961, loving mother of Mrs. W.J. Amonio and Gordon T. McClelland; devoted grandmother of Lynne and Kerry McClelland.  A native of Utah; aged 71 years.  A member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Friends are respectfully invited to attend the services Sunday, August 13 at 4 p.m. at the New Colonial Chapel, 2626 High Street.  Services conducted by the Second Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  Entombment, private. (For further information please phone KE 6-5454.)

Photo from the personal albums of Bryce Merkley
Cropped from larger family photo

Georgia should have a death certificate available publicly, but because she died in California, it may be some time before I can procure it here.  Her birth date needs to be verified in some way, and her marital info could be clarified further as she was named in the newspaper as a McClelland but she had remarried a second time in 1949 to a Mr. Francis J. Fuller.  Why her Fuller surname was not used is a mystery.  I shall have to investigate...

Asher & Birda serve a mission

Asher and Birda Merkley served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Texas from 1963-1965.

Photo from the personal albums of Bryce Merkley

Newspaper notice:

SOURCE: Vernal Express 1962, Dec 27, p.4

Newspaper notice transcribed:

Missionary Farewell Testimonial Sunday for Asher & Birda Merkley

Asher and Birda Lewis Merkley will be honored at a missionary farewell testimonial at Vernal's 5th Ward Chapel, Sunday at 5 p.m.

Opening prayer will be offered by their son, Douglas L. Merkley.  Speakers will be Harold E. Hullinger, President Wm. B. Wallis and LaMond Tullis.  A response will be given by the missionaries, Asher and Birda Merkley.

Special musical numbers will include a duet by Tamera and Edwin Hacking, and an organ solo will be played by Mable Stagg.  A duet will be sung by Pat Stewart and Virginia Hacking.

Mr. and Mrs. Merkley have worked in the LDS Church for many years.  They both have served stake missions.

Mrs. Merkley has worked with the children in Primary, Sunday School and Mutual.  She has also been in a stake capacity.

Mr. Merkley has worked mainly with the young men in the priesthood.

The Merkleys will enter the Mission Home January 7.  Their mission address will be Texas Mission 5514 Caroline Street, Houston 4, Texas.

Texas mission photo, taken 8 Jan 1963
Asher and Birda are on 3rd row, 7th and 8th from right
Photo from the personal albums of Bryce Merkley

The following are a handful of letters Birda wrote home to her family, from various dates.  I include them here because they may be of interest to her posterity, but because they are personal letters, I am not transcribing them.  Click on the images for a better look at them, and good luck reading them as her writing has faded a bit and scanning could only pick up so much.  You can zoom in a little, but it takes some work to decipher the text.  From these letters I learned that Asher was called to be a Bishop while serving in Texas, something I would not have known otherwise... so preserving these letters has proved valuable, and I'm glad to have them here.
All letters come from the personal albums of Bryce Merkley.

Asher & Birda on 14 Nov 1965
(after their missionary service)
Photo from personal albums of Bryce Merkley

Death info on Minnie Pearce

Minnie "C" Lewis Pearce was one of Birda's older sisters.

From the personal albums of Bryce Merkley
Image is cropped/edited from a larger family photo

According to these documents the following dates apply:

BIRTH: 21, Sept 1880- Holladay, Salt Lake, Utah

DEATH: 22 Feb 1926- Vernal, Uintah, Utah

She was 45 years old when she died.

Obituary:

SOURCE: Vernal Express 1926, Feb 26, p.1
Also found in the personal albums of Mark Foster

Obituary transcribed:
Final Tributes Tendered Mrs. Minnie Pearce
(From Glines Correspondent)
The man friends of Mr. and Mrs. William Pearce are grief stricken at the death of Mrs. Minnie Lewis Pearce who died at the home of her sister, Mrs. E.W. Evans at Vernal, Feb 22.
Minnie Lewis Pearce was born on September 21, 1880 at Holladay, Salt Lake County, Utah.  She was the fourth child of Siney and Elizabeth Coleman Lewis.  She came to Vernal with her parents in the year 1896 and here met and married William Pearce in the year of 1899.  The them has been born four boys and four girls all of whom with her aged parents, three brothers and four sisters are left to mourn her loss.
Funeral services were held Feb 24 at 11 a.m. at the Glines chapel.  Bishop John B. Eaton presided.  The building was crowded to overflowing with friends paying their love and respect for one of their departed number.  The casket was a garden of flowers.
The opening prayer was by John Hair Jr.  The Glines choir furnished the following numbers "Jesus Lover of My Soul" and "I Know My Redeemer Lives"  J.H. Prows rendered two solos and Mrs. Margaret Collins sang a solo.  The speakers were James Hacking, Bishop Ivy of the Duchesne stake, Joseph A. McKee, Ernest Eaton and Bishop Eaton.  All spoke of her disposition, her noble character and gave consoling words to her bereaved loved ones that were to mourn her loss.  The benediction was by D.O. Jacobson, interment was in the Maeser cemetery.  Thomas Caldwell dedicated the grave.
Surviver her are her husband, 8 children, her parents, 6 sisters and four brothers.  All were present at the services but her son, William, who is in the mission field as a missionary for the L.D.S. church, her daughter, Venice, who was very ill and unable to attend, her sister, Mrs. Georgia (McClelland) of California and brother Charles Lewis of Hiawatha.  Mr. Pearce's brother and wife, a sister and her husband and two daughters were also present.
The many friends of the bereft sympathize with them in their hour of grief.
*Spelling, dates, and punctuation corrected by me wherein I was aware.

Death Certificate:

SOURCE: familysearch.org

Photo from the personal albums of Bryce Merkley
Image cropped from a larger family photo.

Death info on Charles P. Lewis

Charles Preston Lewis was one of Birda's older brothers.

Photo from the personal albums of Dallas Workman

According to these documents the following dates apply:

BIRTH: 3 Mar 1892- Midway, Wasatch, Utah

DEATH: 18 May 1980- Vernal, Uintah, Utah

He was 88 years old when he died.

Obituary:

SOURCE: SL Tribune 1980, May 20, p.D3

Obituary transcribed:

Charles Preston Lewis

VERNAL- Charles Preston Lewis, 88, of Vernal, died May 18, 1980 in Vernal.

Born March 3, 1892, Midway, Wasatch County to Siney and Elizabeth Coleman Lewis.  Married Crystal Dean Potter Oct. 30, 1912, Vernal.  Marriage later solemnized in Salt Lake LDS Temple.  She died March 25, 1978.  Attended University of Utah on scholarship and graduated with bachelor's degree in 1915.  Taught school for 37 years at Maeser, Glines, Ashley, Central, Whiterocks, and Carbon elementary schools.  Completed last 22 years at Uintah High School.  Played in dance orchestras and in the first dance orchestra at Imperial Hall.  Also leader of band of 30 local citizens.  Instrumental in organization of Uintah County Senior Citizens Group and in locating their present building.  Scoutmaster of Troop 232, which won many honors.

Survivors: son, daughters, Ret. Lt. Col. Charles Howard Lewis, Hansville, Wash.; Mrs. R.D. (Lenore) Nielson, Aptos, Calif.; Mrs. Max (Patricia) Stewart, Vernal.  10 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; sister, Mrs. Jennie Hullinger, Vernal.

Funeral services Wednesday 11 a.m. Vernal 3rd LDS Ward Chapel.  Friends may call at Vernal Mortuary Tuesday 7-9 p.m. and Wednesday 9:30-10:30 a.m. Burial, Maeser Fairview Cemetery.

*Spelling corrected wherein I was aware.

Local obituary:

SOURCE: Vernal Express 1980, May ?
Found in the personal albums of Patty Stewart
Same text as obituary above,
exempting funeral information.

Photo from the personal albums of Patty Stewart

Because Charlie died in the last 50 years, his death certificate will not become publicly available until sometime around the year 2030.  When it is available I will post it here.

Death info on Frances P Lewis

Frances Elizabeth Paxman Lewis was Birda's sister-in-law.  

She married Birda's brother, Frank.

"Frances Lewis swimming at Saltair"
Cropped from a larger image
From the personal albums of Dallas Workman

According to these documents, the following dates apply:

BIRTH: 23 July 1886- Manti, Sanpete, Utah

DEATH: 14 Dec 1964- Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah

She was 78 years old when she died.

Obituary:

SOURCE: Salt Lake Tribune 1964, Dec 15, p.28

Obituary transcribed:
Frances E. P. Lewis
VERNAL- Mrs. Frances Elizabeth Paxman Lewis, 78, 284 S. 1st West, Vernal, died of natural causes Monday at 12:45 a.m. in a Salt Lake hospital.  Born July 23, 1886, Manti, to George F. and Martha Evans Paxman.  Married to Franklin Lewis Sept. 18, 1924, Salt Lake LDS Temple.  Active member LDS Church.  Survivors: husband; son, daughter, Robert, Rangely, Colo.; Mrs. Geneve Workman, Centerville; six grandchildren; sister, Mrs. LeRoy (Georgetta) Pay, Salt Lake City.  Funeral Thursday 11 a.m. Vernal LDS and Ward Chapel, 145 S. 1st West.  Friends call 260 E. South Temple, Salt Lake City, Tuesday 6-8 p.m. Vernal Mortuary Wednesday 7-9 p.m., Thursday prior to services.
Burial Vernal City Cemetery.
*Punctuation corrected wherein I was aware.

Local obituary:

SOURCE: Vernal Express 1964, Dec 17, p. 21

Local obituary transcribed:
Funeral Set Thursday for Frances Lewis
Funeral services will be held Thursday (today) for Mrs. Frances Elizabeth Paxman Lewis, 78, in the Vernal Second Ward LDS Chapel at 11 a.m.
Mrs. Lewis fell on the ice and broke her arm about two weeks ago and had been recuperating in Salt Lake City at the home of a sister.  She became suddenly ill and was taken to the hospital where she died.
She was born July 23, 1886 in Manti to George F. and Martha Evans Paxman.  She married Franklin Lewis Sept. 18, 1924 in the Salt Lake LDS Temple and was an active member of the LDS Church.
Survivors include her husband of Vernal, a son, Robert Lewis, Rangely, Colo., a daughter, Mrs. Geneve Workman, Centerville; six grandchildren and a sister, Mrs. LeRoy (Georgetta) Pay, Salt Lake City.
Friends may call at the Vernal Mortuary Thursday prior to services.  Burial will be in the Vernal City Cemetery.

Funeral notice:

SOURCE: Vernal Express 1964, Dec 24, p.4

Funeral notice transcribed:
Rites Held for Frances Lewis December 17
Funeral services were held for Frances E. Paxman Lewis, 78, in the Vernal Second Ward Chapel on Thursday of last week.  Mrs. Lewis died in a Salt Lake hospital.
Richard Henrikson gave the prayer at the mortuary.
Services were under the direction of Bishop Ben W. Lindsay.  Clarence Palmer gave the invocation.  Remarks were given by Bishop Lindsay.  "Softly and Tenderly" was sung by Mrs. Glade Sowards, Mrs. Max Stewart and Mrs. Richard Ufford.  They were accompanied by Mrs. Ben Lindsay.
Phillip Watkins and Douglas Pay were the speakers.  An organ solo was played by Mrs. Harold R. Sargent.
V. Fred Washburn gave the benediction.  Harold Call dedicated the grave.  Burial was in the Vernal Memorial Park Cemetery.
The flowers were taken care of by members of the Second Ward Relief Society.
Pall bearers were Max Stewart, Douglas Pay, Ray Workman, Brigham McConkie, Douglas Jones and E. Joseph Winder.
Out-of-town visitors were Mr. and Mrs. Robert Lewis and son, Rangely, Colo.; Dallas, Geneve, Susan, Kathleen, Ray, Michael, and Michelle Workman of Centerville; LeRoy, Georgetta, and Douglas Pay of Salt Lake City; Mr. and Mrs. Harold Call, Heber City and Mr. and Mrs. Richard Henrikson, Salt Lake City.

Final resting place for Frances
Photo from the personal albums of Bryce Merkley

Because Frances died in the last 50 years her death certificate will not become publicly available until sometime around the year 2014.  When it is available I will post it here.

Photo from the personal albums of Bryce Merkley

Death info on Mary L. Hatch

Mary Lewis Hatch was an older sister to Birda.

Photo from personal albums of Glen Hatch

According to these documents, the following dates apply:

BIRTH: 25 Nov 1887- Midway, Wasatch, Utah

DEATH: 8 Oct 1963- Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah*

She was 75 years old when she died of cancer.

Obituary:

SOURCE: SL Tribune 1963, Oct 10, p.C2

Obituary transcribed:
Mary L. Hatch
VERNAL- Mrs. Mary Lewis Hatch, 75, died of cancer Wednesday, 12:55 p.m., at the home of a daughter in Salt Lake City.  Born Nov. 25, 1887, Midway, Wasatch County, to Siney and Elizabeth Coleman Lewis.  Married to Charles A. Hatch, Oct. 4, 1911, Salt Lake Temple, Church of Jeses Christ of Latter-day Saints.  He died, June, 1959.  Member, LDS Church. Past president, Primary and Relief Society, Vernal Third LDS Ward.  Member, Senior Current Topics Club and Utopia Club.  Attended Brigham Young University, University of Utah.  Former teacher, Uintah School District.  Survivors: son, daughter, Glen L., Mrs. Don D. (Buffie) Lybbert, both Salt Lake City; six grandchildren; brothers, sisters, Frank and Charles P. Lewis, Mrs. John (Annie) Weist, Mrs. Harold E. (Jennie) Hullinger, all Vernal; Mrs. Asher (Birda) Merkley, serving LDS mission, Texas.  Funeral Saturday, 10:30 a.m., Vernal Third LDS Ward Chapel.  Friends call Vernal Mortuary Sunday, 7-9 p.m., Monday prior to services.  Burial, Vernal Memorial Cemetery.

Local obituary:

SOURCE: Vernal Express 1963, Oct 10, p.5

Local obituary transcribed:
Mrs. Chas. Hatch Funeral Set Here Saturday
Funeral services for Mrs. Charles A. (Mary) Hatch, 75, have been set for Saturday at 10:30 a.m. in Vernal 3rd Ward chapel.
She died Wednesday about 1 p.m. at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Don (Buffie) Lybbert in Salt Lake City after an illness.
She was born November 25, 1997 at Midway, Utah, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Siney Lewis, Sr.  She was married October 4, 1911 to Charles A. Hatch in the Salt Lake Temple.
He died June 30, 1959.
Survivors include one son and one daughter, Glenn L. Hatch, Salt Lake City, and Mrs. Lybbert, and six grandchildren.
Friends may call at the Vernal Mortuary Friday evening from 7 to 9 and Saturday morning prior to services.
Burial will be in Vernal City Memorial Park.

Funeral notice:

SOURCE: Vernal Express 1963, Oct 17, p.5

Funeral notice transcribed:
Final Rites Held Saturday for Mary Hatch
Funeral rites were held Saturday at 10:30 a.m. in the Vernal Third Ward Chapel for Mrs. Mary Lewis Hatch, 75.
Mrs. Hatch died of cancer Wednesday of last week at 12:55 p.m. at the home of a daughter in Salt Lake City.
Prayer at the Vernal Mortuary was offered by Douglas Merkley.
Prelude and postlude music at the chapel was rendered by Mrs. Mary Schaefermeyer, Gene Ray Hall, a member of the Bishopric, conducted the services.
The hymn, "In the Garden" was sung by Pat Stewart and Roberta Ufford, and invocation was offered by Paul Hullinger.
Harold E. Hullinger, brother-in-law of the deceased, was the first speaker, followed by a trio, "One Fleeting Hour" sung by Mrs. Marva Lent, Mrs. Lois Erickson and Mrs. Merilyn Maxwell.
James Gray was the concluding speaker, and "Going Home" was sung by Glad Sowards.  All musical numbers were accompanied by Mrs. Schaefermeyer.
Bryce Merkley offered the benediction and the burial was in the Vernal Memorial Park Cemetery, with Leo Hacking dedicating the grave.
Pallbearers were Don, Richard and Hugo Hullinger, Max Stewart, Devere Carroll and Bill Lewis.
Mrs. Hatch was born Nov. 25, 1887 in Midway, UT, a daughter of Siney and Elizabeth Coleman Lewis.  She was married to Charles A. Hatch, Oct. 4, 1911 in the Salt Lake LDS Temmple.  He died, June 1959.
She was past president of the Primary and Relief Society of Vernal Third Ward.  A member of the Senior Current Topics Club and Utopia Club.  Attended Brigham Young University, University of Utah, and was a former teacher in the Uintah School District.
Survivors; son, daughter, Glenn L. and Mrs. Don D. (Buffie) Lybbert, both of Salt Lake City; six grandchildren; brother, sisters, Frank and Charles P. Lewis, Mrs. John (Annie) Weist,  Mrs. Harold E. (Jennie) Hullinger, all of Vernal; Mrs. Asher (Birda) Merkley, serving on LDS mission in Texas.
Out-of-town visitors attending the services were: Mr. and Mrs. Glenn L. Hatch, Mr. and Mrs. Don D. Lybbert, Mr. and Mrs. Everett Lybbert, Mrs. Dan Lybbert, Don Hullinger, Mr. and Mrs. Robert D. Neilson, Tamera Hacking and Mr. and Mrs. Fred Hudson and daughter all of Salt Lake City.
Robert Lewis, Rangely; Mr. and Mrs. Axel Birch and Mrs. Venetta Probst, Pleasant Grove; Paul Hullinger and Mr. and Mrs. Bryce Merkley, Mr. and Mrs. George McMilland, Mrs. Elizabeth Japerson and Mrs. Ann Fisher, all of Heber City.
Vernal Pearce, Norwalk, Calif.; Mrs. Venice West, Downey, Calif.; Mrs. Louis Heine, Lynwood, Calif.; E.W. Evans, Provo; Mr. and Mrs. George Foster, Columbia, UT; and Mr. and Mrs. James Gray, and Mr. Gray's mother of Lehi.
*Punctuation and spelling corrected wherein I was aware.

Photo from the personal albums of Bryce Merkley

* The 1963 calendar indicates that the 8th of October was a Tuesday.  These documents state she died "last Wednesday" which would have been the 9th of October, but family records indicate that her death date WAS the 8th, SO there's a bit of a discrepancy here.  Her death certificate may clarify this.

As Mary died in the last 50 years, her death certificate should become publicly available in 2013.  When it is, I will post it here.