Death info on Birda Lewis Merkley

Photo from the personal albums of David Ahrnsbrak

According to this obituary, the following dates apply:

BIRTH: 9 Jun 1899- Vernal, Uintah, Utah

DEATH: 8 May 1972- Vernal, Uintah, Utah

She was 72 years old when she died.

Obituary:

SOURCE: Salt Lake Tribune 1972, May 10, p.B13

Obituary transcribed:

Birda L. Merkley

VERNAL- Birda Lewis Merkley, 72, Vernal, died May 8 of natural causes in a local hospital.  Born June 9, 1899, Vernal, to Siney and Elizabeth Coleman Lewis.  Married to Asher Merkley Aug 2, 1920, Vernal; solemnized in Salt Lake LDS Temple.  Served LDS mission to Texas, 1963-65; member Senior Current Topics Club; attended Brigham Young Academy; elementary school teacher in Vernal. Survivors: husband; sons, daughters, Douglas L., Heber City; Bryce A., Salt Lake City; Mrs. Arnold (Kathyleen) Ahrnsbrak, Hastings, Minn.; Mrs. Leo E. (Virginia) Hacking, Vernal; 11 grandchildren; three great-grandchilden; brothers, sister, Franklin, Centerville; Charles, Mrs. Harold B. (Jennie) Hullinger, both Vernal.  Funeral Thursday noon, Vernal 6th LDS Ward Chapel.  Friends call Vernal Mortuary, Wednesday, 7-9 p.m., Thursday prior to services.  Burial, Vernal Memorial Park.

Local obituary:

SOURCE: Vernal Express 1972, May 11, p.17

 Local obituary transcribed:
Birda Lewis Merkley Services Slated Today
Funeral services are slated for Thursday (today) at noon for Birda Lewis Merkley, 72, who died in the Uintah County Hospital after a short illness.
Mrs. Merkley was born in Vernal to Siney and Elizabeth Coleman Lewis, June 9, 1899.  She married Asher Merkley in Vernal August 2, 1920.  The marriage was later solemnized in the Salt Lake City LDS Temple.
Her survivors include her widower, sons and daughters, Mrs. Leo E. (Virginia) Hacking, Vernal; Mrs. Arnold (Kathyleen) Ahrnsbrak, Hastings, Minnesota; Douglas L., Heber; and Bryce A., Salt Lake City.
She had 11 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; brothers, Franklin, Centerville; Charles, Vernal; and sister, Mrs. Harold E. (Jennie) Hullinger.
Mrs. Merkley was educated in Vernal and attended the Brigham Young University and was an elementary school teacher.  She was active in the LDS Church and filled a Texas Mission from 1963-1965.  She was a Relief Society teacher, MIA and Primary leader and a member of the Senior Current Topic Club.
Friends may call at the Vernal Funeral Home one hour prior to services which will be held in the Vernal Sixth Ward.  Burial will be in Vernal Memorial Park Cemetery.
*Punctuation and spelling corrected wherein I was aware.

Funeral Notice:

SOURCE: Vernal Express 1972,  May 18, p.6

Notice transcribed:
Funeral Rites Honor Birda Lewis Merkley
Funeral services were held for Birda Lewis Merkley Thursday of last week at the Ashley Stake Center. Bishop Sheldon Galley officiated.
Prayer was offered at the mortuary by Bryce A. Merkley. An organ and piano duet by Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Thomas, "Abide With Me".  Invocation was offered by David R. Ahrnsbrak, a grandson; obituary was read by Bishop Galley and a violin solo by Richard Merkley, a grandson, "Believe Me If All Those Endearing Young Charms", accopmanied by Merlene D. Merkley.
A tribute by Donna C. Abegglen; vocal solo by Dana Dee Smith, "One Fleeting Hour", accompanied by Laura F. Hacking.  Lamond Tullis was the speaker followed by a vocal duet by Elizabeth and Glade Sowards, "I Wonder When He Comes Again", accompanied by Dorothy Walker.  Benediction was by Edwin M. Hacking, a grandson.  Prelude and postlude music was by Dorothy Walker.  Dedication of the grave was by Leo E. Hacking.
Pallbearers were Don and Floyd Hullinger, Lynn Lund, Arnold Ahrnsbrak, Mel Ryan and Kevin Merkley.  Interment in the Vernal Memorial Park was under the direction of the Vernal Mortuary.
Those attending the funeral services from out-of-town were Steven Hausknecht, Don, Hugo, Floyd and Paul Hullinger, Buffie Lybbert, Mr. and Mrs. Dallas Workman, Franklin Lewis, Mrs. R. D. Nielson, Mr. and Mrs. Toni Frugni, Mr. and Mrs. David Hansen, Robert Lewis, Dell Carroll, Mr. and Mrs. Veldon Carroll, Mr. and Mrs. Chris Merkley, Gregory Hasford, and Mr. and Mrs. Randall Schearer.
*Grammar and spelling corrected by me wherein I was aware.

As Birda's death occurred in the last 50 years, her death certificate will not become publicly available until around the year 2022.  As soon as it is available I will post it here.