Olive Merlene Moss

Olive Merlene Olsen Moss, age 93, passed away on June 2, 2015.  Merlene was born March 7, 1922 in Lindon, Utah the ninth and last child of Louis Moroni Olsen born in Salt Lake City October 7, 1877 and Ella Malinda Newell born April 10, 1880 in Orem.  Ellas was the first baby girl born in Orem, Which was then called Provo Bench.  Both parents were the first born of their pioneer ancestors-Louis of both Denmark and Norway and Ellas of England.

Merlene attended Lincoln High School and graduated with honors in 1940.  She was musically talented in both vocal and violin which stayed with her throughout her many adult years.

She married Joseph Orus Johnson, May 29, 1941 and soon after they moved to Southern California.  Their son James Kay Johnson was born there in 1942.  Orus was drafted into the United States Army and served in Germany.  They later divorced.  Two years later, Merlene married William Michael Kovacs.  They had three children, William Michael, Richard Daryl and Gary Alan.  Bill died in 1972.  Merlene then took over the family business and ran it for the next twelve years.

She was an active member of the LDS church and served as an early  morning seminary teacher for several years.  She really enjoyed that opportunity to teach the youth and loved them all and they loved her.  She served as Relief Society President twice and as a Stake missionary.

After 10 years of being a widow, Marlene and her eternal husband Donald Delbert Moss were married and sealed in the Los Angeles Temple on May 15, 1982.  He became Bishop of their Ward and following that calling, they served an LDS Couples' Mission in Manchester, England.  They eventually returned to their roots and moved back to Utah where they bought a home in Farmington and lived there for 22 years.  Don and Merlene were able to travel extensively.

Merlene loved the Temple.  She and her husband served for seven years as ordinance workers in the Bountiful Temple when it first opened.  Later, she served a Part-Time Mission for two and a half years in the Joseph Smith Memorial building.

She loved the Daughters of Utah Pioneers.  She was privileged to be a member and became president of three camps.

Throughout her years of service, Merlene searched for her ancestors who needed their Temple work done and did the work for many of them.

Merlene leaves behind a combined family and a lonely husband who all love her very much.  She was preceded in death by two sons, Richard Kovacs and William Kovacs.  She is survived by her husband Don, sons Jim Johnson and Gary Kovacs, stepsons Dennis Moss, John Moss, and Stephen Moss and stepdaughter Robin Shepherd and 29 grandchildren and 45 great grand children and counting.

Funeral services will be held Monday, June 8, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at the Compton Bench LDS Chapel, 850 N. 300 W., Farmington.  Family and friends may call Sunday evening from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Russon Brothers Farmington Mortuary, 1941 N. Main St. and Monday morning from 9:45-10:45 a.m. at the church prior to services.  Interment- Pleasant Grove Cemetery.