My sweet Grandpa Page passed Dec 4th surrounded by loved ones. I sure am gonna miss him. Even though I was unable to say my goodbyes to him in person due to us living so far away, I was able to say it over the phone. I told him how much I loved him and what a great role model & example he has been in my life. I wanted to write down all my memories of my Grandpa so I wouldn't forget them. I am so grateful I am able to remember them and enjoyed thinking of the great times I had with him.
Grandpa's Obituary
Merrill Ray Page, our loving father, husband and friend to all, passed away in his home on Dec. 4, 2014. His passing will be mourned by all who loved him. Merrill was born June 4, 1935, to William Russell Page and Lena Berdella Barney in Ogden, Utah. He was raised with five brothers and five sisters in Nibley, Utah.
At the age of 14 he met the love of his life, Ellen Stanton Bailey. They were sealed in the Logan Temple on his 19th birthday, June 4, 1954. Merrill was proud of his 27 years of service with the Logan City Fire Department. After retirement, he and his wife served a service mission, and he was a temple officiator for over 25 years. He loved above all Jesus Christ, and served Him in many church callings.
He enjoyed several activities, including camping, water skiing, motorcycling, giving haircuts and singing with the Imperial Glee Club. He was responsible for starting the decorations of the lights that line Marindale Avenue for the holidays.
Merrill improved everything he touched, from his home to vehicles to people's lives.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Ellen, children Patti (Walter) Achatz, Nancy Page (Kim Taylor), Juliann Page, Merrill Jon (Eilene) Page and Kathleen (Michael) Turner, 28 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a son, George Jonathan Page, and daughter Connie Page.
Grandpa's funeral was 12.13.14. Although I wasn't able to physically be at the funeral I was able to watch it via google chat from my brother, Ryan's tablet. It was a beautiful tribute to my Grandpa which I am sure he would have been proud of. They had a fire truck outside the church house waiting to lead the cars to the cemetery.
There was also firemen who stood guard at the viewing.
The grandsons of Grandpa Page.
Grandpa's last ride down Marindale Ave, the road that they live on. They put up flags for him and drove down the ave sirens and all.
The fire station put the ladder up for Grandpa.
This was a pic collage my cousin Brittney put on face book.
Firemen boots.
My wonderful mother-in-law embroidered ribbons. This was the flowers for his casket my mom arranged from silk flowers.
Grandpa was very proud of his full head of hair! He always had it nice and fix. I'm pretty sure he is where I get my thick hair from. I remember him getting a bald's mad hair brush, which had no bristles as a joke. Everyone knew that he would have a full head of hair until the day he died. And he did. :)
Grandma & Grandpa always called and sang to their grandchildren over the phone on their birthdays and brought over a birthday balloon & card.
Grandpa was the hardest worker I have ever met. He was always showing his love by going out of his way to help others. I can't tell you how many times while I was visiting, Grandpa would go missing only to find him washing my car in the drive way.
Grandpa always carried wrapped candies in his pocket- root beer, Carmel, and hot peppermint. He also always had licorish
Grandpa was the best story teller. He was always telling stores about when he was young or funny stories of when he was a fire fighter. Joshua, my baby brother, interview Grandpa for a school project in 2011-2012. Im very grateful he did and that I have this video. I love that he is wearing a pair of his coveralls in this video. He owned all sorts of colors. When ever i picture my grandpa in casual wear it was him wearing his coveralls. I love his that he laughs in it. He had the best laugh.
My Grandparents just celebrated their 60th Anniversary in June. What an amazing accomplishment in this day and age when divorce is so high. They were willing to put in the hard work and love a good marriage needs to work. They were each others best friend, how could you not be when you are together longer than you were apart.
What tease that grandpa was, he was always making jokes and giving you squeezes. He sure was strong for an old man! I guess that came from being a farm boy and a fireman.
Some of the stories I remember Grandpa telling his how he would pick Grandma up for a date on his tractor & plowing Grandma's fathers fields on the way.
I remember riding in Grandpa's Gold Ford truck up to Logan Canyon to Camp Lomia during the summer. (haha I just checked in my mom and it was actually a dodge truck and that me remembering it to be a Ford would make him roll over in his grave!) Made did he love that truck! He took every good car of all his vehicles. He had a fun sounding horn he put in his cars which made am awooga sound.
My Grandparents took care of the grounds 7+ years. I remember helping grandpa mow the archers of grass on his riding lawn mower & mopping the floors in the lodge. They kept their camp trailer parked by the lodge. I remember watching chipmunks & humming birds while sitting by the camper, wading in the stream, swinging on the big metal swing set & Grandpa telling us how Camp Lomia was Old Ephraim, the bear's play ground back in the day.
My Grandparents took care of the grounds 7+ years. I remember helping grandpa mow the archers of grass on his riding lawn mower & mopping the floors in the lodge. They kept their camp trailer parked by the lodge. I remember watching chipmunks & humming birds while sitting by the camper, wading in the stream, swinging on the big metal swing set & Grandpa telling us how Camp Lomia was Old Ephraim, the bear's play ground back in the day.
Grandpa had a way of making you feel like you were so special. Every time I called or saw him, he would tell me how pretty I was and how precious my kids were and what a handsome fella Jerel was. How he and my Grandma put our names in the prayer circle at the temple, and how many times we were prayed for each day of the week. I know he did the same and said the same to all of his grand children but it didn't make it any less special. He loved had so much to love to share.
This was Jade's first time meeting Grandpa Page at the lunch following Jade's baby blessing. Grandpa had a cold when Jade was born that we didn't want her to catch so she was a month old by the time he got to see her.
Grandpa used to put us on our knee and sing some kind of indian chant (I don't know what he called it) and bounce us up and down. I can hear it now in my head.:) This is Grandpa with Aiden when he was about 4 months old.
Grandpa used to put us on our knee and sing some kind of indian chant (I don't know what he called it) and bounce us up and down. I can hear it now in my head.:) This is Grandpa with Aiden when he was about 4 months old.
Grandpa & Grandma decorated the lamp posts down Marindale Ave which is the street they live on. I remember helping them put up decorations.
When I was young we would go help Grandma & Grandpa pick apricots in their back yard. I remember eating so many I would get sick to my stomach. Grandpa would tease and say our last name apricots instead of Achatz.
When I was three years old, I started sucking my thumb after learning it from my cousins Daris & Derek. My mom tired everything she could think of but couldn’t get me to stop so she brought me over to Grandma & Grandpa Pages house. She told my Grandpa & told me that if I kept sucking my teeth, they would fall out like Grandpa’s. He then pulled his false teeth right out to show me. I took off running down the driveway screaming. It completely traumatized me and I wouldn’t go near him for a very long time. After that, every time I went to suck my thumb, I would remember what grandpa said. It worked I stopped sucking my thumb
Then a few years ago, Grandpa was in the hospital and called my sister, Alisha to go pick a few things up at the house to bring to him. She couldn’t so she called me. So I get to their house and am wandering around the house picking up his things.. Alisha says now go into the bathroom & open the mirror cabinet.... i did... she didn’t have to tell me what he wanted. In a glass stat those dang false teeth.... Alisha had conveniently forgotten to tell me he needed his false teeth. So I brought them to him but I sure wasn’t so happy about it.
Oh Grandp, how I will miss you. Rewind back to when I had my wisdom pulled in 2009 grandpa came to pick me up from the dentist and too me to their house. After he made his fresh Carmel popcorn with peanuts in it and offered it to me.. There was no way I could eat it but man he made the best Carmel popcorn!
Oh Grandp, how I will miss you. Rewind back to when I had my wisdom pulled in 2009 grandpa came to pick me up from the dentist and too me to their house. After he made his fresh Carmel popcorn with peanuts in it and offered it to me.. There was no way I could eat it but man he made the best Carmel popcorn!
This was the last time I saw Grandpa which was 6 months ago. Im sure glad we were able to visit him. I called him every so often and talked to him on the phone. On Thanksgiving, a week before he passed, I was able to face time with them for a few mins.
