Passing Of Dr. Monte Merrill
Dear UW orthodontic family,
With sadness, I wish to inform you that one of our distinguished alums, Dr. Monte Merrill, passed away last week.
Monte Merrill was a 1968 grad of UW Orthodontics, and practiced in Eastern Washington. Many “old-timers” will have fond memories of Monte, while many younger alums know his two orthodontist sons, Rob and Tom. He lived a full life, tirelessly and faithfully serving his family, community, country, church, and patients. Services were held in East Wenatchee on Oct 20, and his burial will be in Utah on Oct 28.
Our sincerest condolences to the entire Merrill family.
Greg
Professor and Chair – Department of Orthodontics
University of Washington, School of Dentistry
Osmond “Monte” Merrill, 86, of East Wenatchee, Washington, passed away peacefully in his sleep Thursday, October 12, 2017. He is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Eunice Tidwell Merrill, and children: Marianne (Scott) Nash, Kristi (Mike) Anderton, Rob (Mary) Merrill, Rick (Carlynn) Merrill, Tom (Elisabeth) Merrill, 19 grandchildren and 32 great-grandchildren. They also are survived by three foster children, Patricia, Kathy and Alan Birdsbill and two foster grand-children who lived with them. He was preceded in death by his parents, Osmond Marriner and Elthura Raymond Merrill, sister Patricia Michaud and brother James Merrill.
Monte was born in Idaho Falls, ID, on December 24, 1931. Shortly after, his family moved to Richmond, UT, where he graduated from North Cache High School. He attended Utah State in Logan, UT for 18 months before being called to serve a 2-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Central Atlantic States. He left for the mission home in Salt Lake City and was there only one week when the draft board canceled all deferments in Cache Valley. Many of his friends shipped off to the Korean War, but he returned home agreeing to continue in the ROTC while attending school. At Utah State, he served as Jr. Class President, president of Pi Kappa Alpha, and in other areas of student government and honorary organizations. He married the love of his life, Eunice Tidwell, in the Logan LDS Temple on May 16, 1951. They spent 66 wonderful years together.
After graduating from Utah State and ROTC, he attended Meteorology School at the University of Washington as a member of the U.S. Air Force. He served military duty in San Bernardino, CA, and Fairbanks, AK. Afterwards, he returned to Seattle receiving degrees in Dentistry and Orthodontics from the University of Washington. While in Seattle, he served as Bishop of the Seattle 8th Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Monte loved serving wherever and whenever he could, always being the first to volunteer. Many family members, neighbors and friends benefited from his expertise in gardening, roofing, sprinkler systems, turf placement, etc. His garden produced an abundance of fruits and vegetables and his yard was filled with roses of all varieties. He shared both with family and friends. He loved canning, and memories made around the kitchen sink and stove will be treasured by his family. Monte had a great love for the Boy Scouts of America and served for over 50 years in that organization receiving the Silver Beaver Award while serving in the Chief Seattle Council. He was an 11-year-old scout leader at the age of 81 and his scouts deemed him, “Cool.”
Monte’s faith determined the path of his life and he lived by these words, “Choose ye this day whom ye will serve…but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15). He will be greatly missed by all who love him but we know we will be together again because, “Families Are Forever.”
A funeral service will be held Friday, October 20, at 1:00 p.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 667 10th Street NE, East Wenatchee, WA. A viewing where friends and family may call will precede the service at 11:30 a.m.
Burial will be in his beloved home of Cache Valley, Utah at the Smithfield City Cemetery, Smithfield, UT, 11:00 a.m. Saturday, October 28, 2017.