Death info on Keturah P. Merkley

Keturah Peterson Merkley was Asher's mother.

Photo from the personal albums of David Ahrnsbrak.

According to these documents, the following dates apply:

BIRTH: 8 Oct 1867- , Hart County, Kentucky

DEATH: 2 May 1950- Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah

Buried in the Vernal Cemetery, Vernal, Uintah, Utah

She was 82 years old when she passed away.

Obituary:

SOURCE: Deseret News 1950, May 3, p.A-14

Obituary transcribed:

Keturah P. Merkley

Mrs. Keturah P. (Aunt Kate) Merkley, 82, pioneer of Ashley Valley, Uintah County, died Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. in a Salt Lake hospital from causes incident to age.

A resident of Vernal until ten years ago, she resided at the time of her death with a niece, Mrs. Lula Fletcher, 3103 Mountair Dr.

A daughter of Peter and Mary E. Thurman Peterson, Mrs. Merkley was born in Hart County KY, Oct. 8, 1867.  She was well known as a practical nurse.

At the age of 12 she moved to Ashley Valley with her family from Cedar Fort, Utah County.

Mrs. Merkley served as Relief Society president six years in Vernal First Ward, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

She was married to Nelson Merkley Jr. June 9, 1884 in Vernal.  The marriage was solemnized two years later in the Logan Temple.  Mr. Merkley was for 37 years a patriarch in Uintah Stake.  He died in 1924.

Surviving are two sons, Ellis Merkley, Salt Lake City, and Asher Merkley, Vernal.  Three daughters, Mrs. Helen M. Colton, Roosevelt, Duchesne County; Mrs. Mary Elizabeth M. Sanders, Heber City; and Mrs. Margaret Jane M. Hansen, Salt Lake City.  A niece whom Mrs. Merkley reared from infancy, Mrs. Lula Ellen Murray Fletcher; a sister, Mrs. Alice Koane, El Monte, Calif; three brothers, James O. Peterson, Neola, Duchesne County; David J. Peterson, Salt Lake City, and Henry Peterson, Ogden.  31 grandchildren and 32 great-grandchildren.

Services will be held Thursday noon at 260 East South Temple St. where friends may call Thursday after 11 a.m.  Additional services will be conducted Friday at 1 p.m. in the Vernal Third Ward chapel where friends may call prior to the funeral time.

Burial will be in Vernal Cemetery.

*Spelling and punctuation corrected inasmuch as I was aware.

Funeral announcement:

SOURCE: Vernal Express 1950, May 11, p.5

Funeral announcement transcribed:

Funeral Held Friday for Keturah Merkley

Bishop Orion Jones conducted funeral services for Mrs. Keturah P. (Aunt Kate) Merkley last Friday at 1 p.m. in the Third ward chapel.  Prayer in the home was offered by Fred G. Bingham.

Invocation was by Aird Merkley of Beaver. George Roth, Chellus Caldwell, Mrs. Harold Lundell and Mrs. Leo Hacking sang, "Oh My Father", "Abide With Me" and "Lead Me Gently Home Father" with Mrs. Mable Stagg at the piano; Mrs. John Jorgenseon sang "Just a Wearin' For You" accompanied by Mrs. Stagg.

Speakers were Pres. Archie Johnson, Harmon S. Sowards and Mrs. DeGraff of Heber City.  Benediction was by B.O. Colton of Roosevelt.  Ellis Merkley of Salt Lake City dedicated the grave.

Pallbearers were Leo E. Hacking, Warren, Amos, Ward, Bryce and Sid Merkley.  Burial was in the Vernal City cemetery under the direction of the Swain Funeral Home.

*Spelling and punctuation corrected wherein I was aware.

Death Certificate:

SOURCE: familysearch.org