Lola Scott Merrill, 94
MESA—Our beloved Mom, Lola Scott Merrill, 94, passed away peacefully 15 May, 2023, at her daughter’s home in Mesa, Arizona. Lola was born with striking blue eyes on 20 April 1929, in Pomerene, Arizona to Louis Anthony Scott and Masilva May Coons.
Lola attended Grammar School in Pomerene. She was the 8th grade Valedictorian and graduated from Benson Union High School in 1947. Lola then attended BYU in Provo, Utah.
Lola met Burt Edmond Merrill on a group date where they were both on a date with someone else. Burt and Lola were married in St. David, Arizona on 10 September 1948. They were sealed in the Mesa Arizona Temple on 22 June, 1951. Their union was blessed with seven children.
Lola and Burt eventually settled in Burt’s hometown of St. David. In 1954 they bought a dairy farm. To help ends meet, Lola worked at Ft. Huachuca’s Libby Airfield in 1956. In 1964, Burt and Lola lost their dairy due to newly acquired cattle that diseased their entire herd. To help overcome this hardship, Lola worked at Spencer Merrill’s St. David store and then worked for 15 years as St. David School’s secretary, retiring when the dairy debts were paid in full.
Mom and Dad took on early morning paper routes to help pay for mission expenses. They expected their children to help with the work. Delivering newspapers before school required at least two children getting up before the crack of dawn. Milking and feeding cows, tending chickens, horses and growing, harvesting, packing and selling the greenhouses tomato crops were some additional family responsibilities. On Saturday, Mom directed chores and the baking of eight-ten loaves of bread to last the following week, frying some bread dough into ‘cheaters’ to eat with beans for Saturday’s supper. Lola said her kids thanked her later in life for teaching them to work and making the most with what they had!
Even through hardship, Mom always recognized her blessings, often expressing gratitude for them. She considered each individual member of her family as one of those cherished blessings. “Grandma Great” loved each of her grandchildren unconditionally. Grandma expressed she wanted her three generations of grandchildren to know that following our Savior would bring much needed blessings and peace into their lives just as following Him had brought so many blessings into her life. Most of all, she expressed she wanted her children and grandchildren to be happy. Grandma Great lived a happy life!
In 1997, Lola and Burt served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Omaha, Nebraska. Part of their mission was to join the Sesquicentennial trek from Nebraska to Utah, commemorating the Latter-Day Saint Pioneers who crossed the wild west. When the wagon trains and handcarts circled for the night, Lola and Burt set up a Family History Center where local community members could research and learn of their own family history. Lola had a passion for Family History and Genealogy, continuing the work the remainder of her life. Lola served faithfully in many church callings throughout her life, including serving as Director of the Family Search Center. Lola spent much of her time in selfless service to others and to her community. Lola had a determination to be good and do good in all aspects of her life. Whatever task she took on she did whole heartedly and with a good attitude.
Lola was preceded in death by her husband, Burt, Granddaughter Angela Merrill, Grandson Kurt Borgersen. Lola is survived by her sister, Inez Scott Post, her children, Wayne (Connie) Merrill, Daison (Ann) Merrill, both of St. David, Arizona, Glennice (Brian) Borgersen of Yuma, Arizona, Lynn (Cathy) Merrill of Sandy, Utah, Tammy (Mark) Chandler of St. Anthony, Idaho, Burt (Elizabeth) Merrill of South Jordan, Utah, Silva (Kim) King of Mesa, Arizona, 32 grandchildren, 84 great grandchildren and seven great-great grandchildren.
Services will be held Saturday, May 27, 2023 at 10:00 am at the St. David Ward LDS chapel (640 West Patton Street, St. David, Arizona) with Bishop Kevin Merrill officiating. Family will receive friends from 9:00 am to 9:45 am at the church. Interment will be in the Saint David Cemetery. Funeral Arrangements provided by Richardson’s Remembrance Center, Benson, Arizona.
