- ELBA - Merlin Ward Ottley, age 85, of Elba, passed away Saturday, Dec. 6, 2008, at the Intermountain Medical Center in Murray, Utah, from results of a fall.
He was born May 22, 1923, in Burley, the son of John Henry and Sarah Matilda (Ward) Ottley. He attended school in Elba and graduated from the Raft River High School. He then attended Idaho State University. Merlin married Quilla Yvonne Farr on Sept. 2, 1955, in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple. To this union were born four children, Kirk, Connie, Marnae and Thane.
Merlin was a rancher all his life. He was honored as the Idaho Century Farmer in 1982, was the Farm Bureau Grand Farmer of the Year in 2002, and was inducted into the Livestock Hall of Fame in 2006. He was an active member of the LDS Church all of his life and served in many callings. Merlin's goal in life was to love his family and to be a good friend.
He is survived by his wife; his four children; his grandchildren, Cade, Wendy, Jacob, Brandon, Logan, Skyler, Kelsey, Cameron and Sarah; one great-granddaughter, Sophia; and three brothers, Leonard, Ross and Ed. Merlin was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Wenzel, Alvin and Stephen; and one sister, Geraldine.
The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 11, at the Elba LDS Church with Bishop Carl F. Boden officiating. Merlin will be laid to rest in the Grand View Cemetery in Elba. Friends may call from 6 until 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10, at the Rasmussen Funeral Home, 1350 E. 16th St. in Burley, and from 10 until 10:45 a.m. Thursday at the church.
• Published Tuesday, December 9, 2008
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