Merlyn Pugmire Sorenson faithfully completed her mission on earth, returning to her loved ones on Thursday, July 11, 2013.
Merlyn's life of devotion began in St. Charles, Idaho on January 20, 1936 as the daughter of Landon Burdette Pugmire and Vilda Passey Pugmire.
From the time she was young, Merlyn strived for excellence. That drive led her to the top of the class throughout her school years as well as in the work force. Part of that striving for excellence included searching for just the right man to marry. She married her high school sweetheart, Darrell H. Sorenson on May 22, 1953, in the Logan LDS temple.
Merlyn was compassionate, classy, organized, loving, conservative, hardworking, and one of the most Christ like women. She had a strong testimony of the gospel and lived it everyday of her life. She was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints holding many positions on both a ward and stake level. Everybody whether family member, friend or casual acquaintance, thought they were her favorite person in the world. She took the time to make each person feel important. She often worried about others, and took whatever action was necessary to ease their burdens.
Merlyn loved music and willingly shared her talent with others, through singing in and leading choirs. Her most cherished audiences though, were her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She held them spellbound for hours with songs passed down through generations, and stories that she created and recorded for them to listen to at bedtime. What a treasured legacy!
Merlyn's influence reaches far beyond the Bear Lake Valley. She served with her husband in the California Arcadia Mission as secretary to the Mission President from 2006-2007. She continues making a difference in the lives of those she loved in that area. After completing their mission she accepted an assignment to serve with her husband in the Logan LDS Temple in 2008 and continued faithfully to the very end.
Merlyn is survived by her husband of 60 years, Darrell H. Sorenson of Ovid, Idaho, her children, Gay (Rick) Jackson of Farmington, Utah, Richard D. (Maureen) Sorenson of N. Logan, Utah, and RaNae (Rick) Roberts, of Paris, Idaho; 14 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren; one sister, Lynette Leishman of Bountiful. She was preceded in death by her parents, her only brother, Merrill Pugmire, 2 grandsons, Adam and Landon Sorenson, and one great grandson, Jaxen Malmberg.
Viewing will be held Tuesday, July 16, from 6-8 p.m. at Schwab-Matthews Mortuary, 702 Clay Street, Montpelier, Idaho.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, July 17, at 11:00 a.m. in the Paris Idaho LDS Stake Center, where friends may call that morning from 9-10:45 a.m..
Burial will be in the Ovid Cemetery with services under the direction of Schwab-Matthews Mortuary.
Merlyn's life of devotion began in St. Charles, Idaho on January 20, 1936 as the daughter of Landon Burdette Pugmire and Vilda Passey Pugmire.
From the time she was young, Merlyn strived for excellence. That drive led her to the top of the class throughout her school years as well as in the work force. Part of that striving for excellence included searching for just the right man to marry. She married her high school sweetheart, Darrell H. Sorenson on May 22, 1953, in the Logan LDS temple.
Merlyn was compassionate, classy, organized, loving, conservative, hardworking, and one of the most Christ like women. She had a strong testimony of the gospel and lived it everyday of her life. She was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints holding many positions on both a ward and stake level. Everybody whether family member, friend or casual acquaintance, thought they were her favorite person in the world. She took the time to make each person feel important. She often worried about others, and took whatever action was necessary to ease their burdens.
Merlyn loved music and willingly shared her talent with others, through singing in and leading choirs. Her most cherished audiences though, were her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She held them spellbound for hours with songs passed down through generations, and stories that she created and recorded for them to listen to at bedtime. What a treasured legacy!
Merlyn's influence reaches far beyond the Bear Lake Valley. She served with her husband in the California Arcadia Mission as secretary to the Mission President from 2006-2007. She continues making a difference in the lives of those she loved in that area. After completing their mission she accepted an assignment to serve with her husband in the Logan LDS Temple in 2008 and continued faithfully to the very end.
Merlyn is survived by her husband of 60 years, Darrell H. Sorenson of Ovid, Idaho, her children, Gay (Rick) Jackson of Farmington, Utah, Richard D. (Maureen) Sorenson of N. Logan, Utah, and RaNae (Rick) Roberts, of Paris, Idaho; 14 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren; one sister, Lynette Leishman of Bountiful. She was preceded in death by her parents, her only brother, Merrill Pugmire, 2 grandsons, Adam and Landon Sorenson, and one great grandson, Jaxen Malmberg.
Viewing will be held Tuesday, July 16, from 6-8 p.m. at Schwab-Matthews Mortuary, 702 Clay Street, Montpelier, Idaho.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, July 17, at 11:00 a.m. in the Paris Idaho LDS Stake Center, where friends may call that morning from 9-10:45 a.m..
Burial will be in the Ovid Cemetery with services under the direction of Schwab-Matthews Mortuary.
Published in Idaho State Journal on July 16, 2013