Merna Euniece Boothe

Merna Eunice Turner Boothe known lovingly as “Grandma-Great” to her family passed away peacefully from complications of a blood infection with her family by her side on Sunday Aug. 18, 2020. She was born in Torrey, Utah on April 26, 1933 to Orvil Lolan and Ida Lavee Holt Turner.

Her family moved to Delta, UT when Merna was two. Merna was raised, attended and graduated from High School in Delta. It was in Delta that Merna met her high school sweetheart Kennith Dean Boothe.

On December 21, 1951, Merna married her eternal companion Ken in the Manti LDS Temple. Together they raised four children, Pam (Grant) Hodgson, Lori Bailey, Greg (Nicole) Boothe and Jeff (Stacy) Boothe. Ken and Merna started their life together in Delta where Ken ran a service station. In 1956 they moved to Salt Lake City, and in 1961 they moved to Bountiful to the home Merna lived in until her death. Merna loved being a wife and mother, and worked as a bookkeeper for Time and Instrument Clock Center for over 35 years

Merna enjoyed cooking, gardening, camping, fishing and going on road trips. She had amazing energy and enjoyed walking in the mornings around the Bountiful Tabernacle with her friends where she often lapped many. She loved serving others and was quick to make a soup or a meal for someone in need. Recently she delivered cloth face masks and blankets to a nursing home for the nurses and residents. She enjoyed sewing and quilting and all her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren have benefitted from the gift of quilts, blankets and rugs from Grandma-Great. The most cherished gift at any wedding was the quilt grandma made from grandpa’s old jeans.

Although separated by physical distance, Merna stayed very close to her sister Paula who lived in Sheridan, Wyoming. They took many road trips to allow their families to be together, and in their senior years continued to talk to each other on the phone every day.

Merna loved her family. She loved family parties and reunions with her more than 50 decedents over four generations including her children, 15 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren, 2 great-great grandchildren and two on the way. Merna was spunky and full of life, and often the first to instigate the traditional water fight at family reunions. At eighty-four Grandma-Great was bound and determined to get in the dunking booth at the family reunion and let the great grandkids dunk her.

Merna was also the queen of Halloween. All her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren have fond memories of going to Grandma-Great’s house, where you always found Merna in full costume and make-up at the stove making soup and rolls for an army.

Merna is survived by her sister Paula Barney, her children Pam, Lori and Jeff, her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great great-grandchildren. She is proceeded in death by her parents, her brothers Gerry Turner and Lolan Turner, her sister Jill Turner, her husband Ken who she loved faithfully her whole life, and her son Greg,

Merna was an amazing person, wife, mother and friend. Her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren’s’ lives were greatly blessed because they had the opportunity to know her and learn from her. She always had a meal prepared when you were hungry, and made everyone feel they were special and the most important (regardless of what she had planned to do that day). She has moved on to be with those who went before her, but for those of us who remain, she will be greatly missed. We love you Grandma Great!

A public viewing will be held Sunday August 23 from 6pm-8pm at Russon Brothers Mortuary.

In lieu of flowers, Merna would love donations be made on her behalf to the LDS Missionary Fund https://philanthropies.churchofjesuschrist.org/missionary