Charlene Merritt McCann's Obituary
Charlene Merritt McCann passed away peacefully at home on February 25, 2023, surrounded
by her family, just shy of her 81st birthday. Charlene was born on March 15,1942 in Salt Lake
City, Utah as the youngest child of Aca “Ace” and Edna (Cude) Merritt. She attended South High
School and graduated in 1960. Charlene started classes at the University of Utah and began
working at the credit bureau. Blaine Reese McCann returned from the Canadian Mission that
same year and his family moved into Charlene’s ward where he quickly noticed Charlene and
began offering her rides to the U. They instantly enjoyed each other’s company, attending
dances and other activities at the institute. After a three-year courtship, they married in the Salt
Lake City Temple on June 19, 1963.
Charlene and Blaine soon added two girls to their family, Carol and Michele, born eleven
months apart. Charlene immersed herself in becoming a full-time mother and homemaker. She
had learned from childhood how to be thrifty and wise in the family economy and willingly made
personal sacrifices so her children could have more. Her family joyfully remained the center of
her time, thoughts and attention for much of her life. After the completion of Blaine’s degree,
they set off on an adventure. Blaine’s job took them to a variety of places including Illinois,
Virginia, Japan, and Tennessee, but the majority of these years (∼25) were spent in San Jose,
California. Along the way, they would add five more children: Jerry, Eric, Erin, Greg, and Lauren.
One of the definitive experiences for their family was the opportunity to live in Japan for five
years in the 1970s. Charlene rose to the challenge of moving to a foreign country with young
kids. She helped the family immerse themselves in a new culture and even in later years, their
home was filled with Japanese art, clothing and food.
Charlene was a creative person who enjoyed oil painting, sewing and drawing. While she
enjoyed exploring creative hobbies, she willingly sacrificed outside pursuits and focused her
attention at home. She used her talents and interests to teach her children and make life fun.
She sewed many costumes and outfits, cooked countless meals to feed a crowd, and took time
to fill her home with interest and beauty. When time permitted, she enjoyed a good movie
(preferably British classics) and could devour a mystery novel. Charlene had a green thumb and
loved gardening. During her many years in San Jose, she grew a variety of plants and flowers
including her favorite, hydrangeas. The way she patiently and consistently worked at nurturing
flowers, translated to the way she mothered her children. Each night, she prayed for each family
member by name, adding grandchildren and great-grandchildren as they joined the family. She
took great care to invest in relationships with those closest to her. She leaves behind hundreds
of letters exchanged with her mother and other close friends. She kept detailed notes of
day-to-day experiences and collected mementos she treasured throughout her life.
After the children were mostly grown, Blaine and Charlene returned to Utah in 1997 and settled
in Pleasant Grove, where they enjoyed making new lifelong friendships with their neighbors and
church congregation. Throughout her life, Charlene was a faithful and devout member of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Everywhere she lived, she was engaged in a
variety of church callings and responsibilities. She loved reading and learning more about
everything including the gospel and had the opportunity to serve with her husband in the New
Zealand Auckland Mission as a senior missionary from 2002-2004. In later years, she was a
service missionary in the Church Employment Office and an ordinance worker in the
Timpanogos Temple.
Our mom will be dearly missed for her sweet, cheerful, and gentle disposition. She was quick to
laugh when others might take offense and was a peacemaker in our home. When we would
recollect all the childhood escapades, practical jokes and mischievous adventures that seven
kids will naturally bring, our mom would laugh along with only a slight roll of the eyes. She could
always find humor, even in hard times, and was very forgiving. In her later years, she was
patient and kind despite the decline in her health. The depth of her pure heart became even
more apparent….as did her love for Dr. Pepper. We will always love you Mom!
Charlene was preceded in death by her parents and one sister, Marilyn King. She is survived by
her beloved husband of nearly 60 years, Blaine McCann, her brother Gary Merritt, and her
seven children: Carol (Steve) Clubb, Michele (Randy) Anderson, Jerry (Melanie) McCann, Eric
(Carollyne) McCann, Erin McCann, Greg McCann, Lauren (Andrew) Stacey, eighteen grandkids,
and eight great-grandkids. A special thanks to iCare Home Health and Hospice-Utah for the
compassionate and personalized care given to mom and the support provided to our family that
exceeded expectations. Loving acknowledgement of the Grovecreek 2nd Ward in Pleasant
Grove and the many individuals that have demonstrated sincere love and service to our parents.
Services are under the direction of Premier Funeral Home and will be held at the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 475 North 700 East, Pleasant Grove, Utah on March 4, 2023
at 11:00 am. Viewings will be held at the same location on Friday, March 3rd from 6-8pm and on
March 4th from 9:30-10:45 am. Interment will follow at the Pleasant Grove City Cemetery.
There will be a live stream of the services at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inl1xBUH7-g
What’s your fondest memory of Charlene?
What’s a lesson you learned from Charlene?
Share a story where Charlene's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Charlene you’ll never forget.
How did Charlene make you smile?
