Wayne Bingham Merkley

Beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, professor, church leader and friend, Wayne Bingham Merkley, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, August 9, 2009.



Wayne was born in Murray, Utah, on April 1, 1941 to Aird Gerber and Merle Bingham Merkley. He was raised in Salt Lake, Beaver and Parowan, Utah where he participated in sports, drama and student government. He entered college on an early admissions program and went on to earn a PhD from the University of Utah in Biology.



Wayne married Gretta Jean Mortensen on April 25, 1959 in Parowan, Utah and their marriage was solemnized the following year in the St. George LDS Temple. They raised their family in Salt Lake City, Utah and Des Moines, Iowa. Wayne is the father of four children, with 11 grandchildren and his first great-grandchild on the way. The family recently had a wonderful time together in celebration of Wayne and Gretta's 50 years of marriage at an immediate family reunion in Brian Head, Utah and a larger family reunion in Beaver, Utah.



An active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Wayne held many leadership positions, including high council member, bishop, and president of Des Moines Iowa Stake.



Wayne was on the biology faculty of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa for 38 years and also taught at the College of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery (COMS). He was master teacher. He loved his students and wanted them to be successful in life, as well as in their chosen careers.



A wonderful and kind man, Wayne performed many acts of service for others. He was a thoughtful and attentive home teacher and often took extra time in service to the downtrodden. He was truly a friend to everyone. He was proud of his heritage and collected pictures, stories and histories of his ancestors that he often shared. He enjoyed great music and loved to sing. He loved being in the mountains fishing and had a new-found enthusiasm for this hobby upon moving back to Utah in 2007 after his retirement.



He was preceded in death by his parents and an older sister, Marilyn. Wayne is survived by his sweetheart of 50 years, Gretta, and their four children, Clark (Sheryl Sanders) of Springville, UT; Elaine Schaffner (Richard) of Goffstown, NH; Brian (Leslie Crosland) of Highland, UT; and Jean Cooper (Gary) of Bennington, NE; his 11 grandchildren; brothers Glade (Grace), of Arcadia, CA; Nelson (Toni) of Ft. Wayne, Indiana; and sisters Delores Horton (Richard) of Beaver, UT; Jean Hawkins (Graham), of Farmington, NM; and Margaret Snow (Gary) of Salt Lake City, UT.



Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 15 at 10:00 a.m. at the Kolob 12th Ward Chapel, 1627 West Cadbury Lane (1200 South), Springville, Utah. Visitation will be Friday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Wheeler Mortuary at 211 East 200 South in Springville, UT and Saturday morning from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. prior to services at the church. Interment will be Saturday at 2:00 p.m. at the Mt. View Cemetery in Beaver, Utah.



In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Perpetual Education Fund, 15 E. South Temple, SLC, UT 84150.