Myrna Merrill Jensen

Myrna Merrill Jensen was born October 20, 1933 in Preston, Idaho to her parents, Clarence and Avilda Merrill. Her dad owned a service station and garage in McCammon, Idaho. At a young age he taught Myrna how to grind valves, clean spark plugs and pump gas. She started taking piano lessons in first grade and elocution lessons a bit later. Music was a major part of her life. She learned to play the organ, clarinet and flute. She joined the pep band and marching band as well. Loving to sing, she joined chorus and choir. She graduated from Preston High School in 1951. It was in Preston High School that she met the love of her life, Gilbert Jensen at a High School girl's choir performance in the Preston 1st Ward building. Gil looked at the young women in their pretty colored dresses during their performance and one smiling face stood out from the rest. It was Myrna. They went on dates, fishing, hunting, driving and discussing their future lives together. They were married June 16, 1952 in the Salt Lake Temple. They moved to Logan where Gil graduated from Utah State University in 1954. They had five remarkable children starting with daughter Terry in 1953, son Creg in 1956, both in Logan, daughter Jenny in 1958, daughter Jo in 1961 and son Clair in 1964 in Salt Lake City. Myrna served twice as Relief Society President, first, under Bishop Barr Moss and then under Bishop Lowell Bennion. She was ward organist in Brighton Branch and East Millcreek Twelfth Ward for 25 years. She was part of a quartet called, "And Everything Nice" with Norma Jarvis, Nancy Pierson and Valeen Dummer for over 20 years. They sang at many social and church events as well as every Christmas season at ZCMI. She was always thinking of and serving others. She was the first to welcome strangers and was a friend to many in need of love and compassionate service. She had many skills as a homemaker and created wedding cakes and meals for large parties at home and church. She was well known for her expertise in candy making, much to the delight of friends and family on holidays and birthdays. Active in the LDS faith, she used to gather her beehive class from the Ivins Ward on her back porch where she told them stories of her youth experiences and courting days and showed them how she could tear a Salt Lake phone book in half with her bare hands. Hence, the name, "Wonder Woman" was given her by all. Myrna was preceded in death by her parents, Clair & Avilda Merrill and sister, Miggs Merrill Petterborg. She is survived by her husband Gilbert W. Jensen, children, Terry Lone, Creg Jensen, Jenny Eldredge, Jo Carlson, Clair Jensen, nephew Thom Lower, eight grandchildren: Rory, Gillian, Jared, Joshua, Jacob, Dayl, Amanda and Lindsey and one great-grandchild, Samuel. Her cherished legacy as loving wife, wonderful mother and incredible grandmother and great-grandmother will live forever in the lessons she has taught, the talents she has shared, the stories she has told and the Christ-like example she has set. She was our Wonder Woman in this life and now a star to guide us into the next. The family gratefully requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to the LDS humanitarian fund. A viewing will be held at the East Millcreek Twelfth Ward building, 3103 Craig Drive, in the east side Relief Society Room on Tuesday, July 7, 2015 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. A graveside service will be held on Wednesday, July 8, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park, 3401 S. Highland Drive.

Myrna Merrill Jensen

October 20, 1933 - June 30, 2015