Ellis Merkley turns 90

Ellis Merkley was Asher's eldest brother.

He lived to the ripe old age of 91, and was thus very entitled to a 90th birthday party in 1975.

Birthday invitation:

From the personal albums of Delores Horton

 Honorary newspaper writeup:

SOURCE: Vernal Express 1975, Apr 24, p.4

Honorary newspaper writeup transcribed:
Ellis Merkley to be honored
Ellis Merkley, 1924 South 10th East, Salt Lake City, will be honored at an open house on Saturday, May 3 in honor of his 90th birthday anniversary.  The open-house will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. at 1722 Harvard Ave. and friends and relatives are invited to call.
Mr. Merkley, a native of Vernal, was born May 2, 1885, the oldest child of Nelson and Keturah Peterson Merkley.  All of his early years were spent in Vernal where he graduated from the Uintah Academy.  He later attended the LDS College in Salt Lake.  After filling a mission to the Southern States, he was married on June 17, 1908 to Jean Eleanor Gerber in the Salt Lake Temple.  They lived for several years in Vernal where they were both active in church and community affairs.
In 1932 the family moved to Salt Lake City where they have since resided.  Mr. Merkley is enjoying good health and drives his car almost every day to visit relative or to attend to other affairs.  Mrs. Merkley died December 26, 1972.  The couple were honored at open houses in observance of their fiftieth and sixtieth wedding anniversaries.
Six children are joining to honor the oldest living Merkley at this open house.  They are, Aird G., Dr. Harold E., and Mrs. Harlan W. (Geraldine) Clark, Salt Lake City; Thurman G., Portland, Oregon; Mrs. Eugene T. (Margret) Condie, Fremont, California; and Dr. Ralph G., Saratoga, California.  His posterity also includes 18 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.  Also joining in honoring Mr. Merkley will be a sister, Mrs. Rulon K. (Margret) Hansen, and Mrs. Clair (Ellen) Fletcher, both of Salt Lake City.

Photos from the 90th birthday gathering (all from the personal albums of Delores Horton):

Ellis Merkley, aged 90

Ellis with family- labeled below image

Party goers (Asher's eldest daughter, Virginia in red)
Evelyn Merkley (green?) Delores Horton (yellow)