Merrill W. Cox

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Merrill W. Cox was born to Arthur Ludene Cox and Theo Hitchcock on May 5, 1930, in Clawson, Utah, the fifth of six children. Merrill graduated from South Emery High School and later from BYU and taught piano technology where he tuned, refurbished, and revived thousands of pianos, not only at BYU, but also for the communities in which he lived and in countless churches.
Merrill with his unconquerable heart was unfailingly kind and was known to say, “I’ve never met a stranger.” He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints where he served in numerous callings, including as a Bishop, member of the stake presidency, and temple worker in the Provo Temple. He was a kind, happy gentleman.
Merrill departed this life on Sept. 1, 2015 in Draper, Utah from complications from Alzheimer’s. He is survived by Elaine Packard Groneman Cox of Spanish Fork, Utah; his former spouses Ann Richards Wilding of Linden, Utah; and Charlotte Magnuson Cox of Bountiful, Utah; his children: Merrill Collin Cox (Patty) of Clawson, Utah; Merilyn Hammond (Wayne) of Bountiful, UT; Kathleen Youngberg (John) of American Fork, Utah; Mark Cox (Lisa) of Nashville, TN; Brian Cox (Regina) of Erda, Utah; and Carolyn Cox (Jerry Silver) of Salt Lake City, Utah; Neal Walter Cox (Michelle) of Nacogdoches, Texas; and Nathan Rhead Cox (Olga) of St. Petersburg, Russia. In addition he is survived by nine step-children, including LeeAnn Madsen (Andy) of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif; Cari Celaya (Greg) of Camarillo, Calif; Kristen Schofield of St. George, Utah; Shauna West (Aaron) of American Fork, Utah; Janna Henshaw (Mark) of Leesburg, VA; Mark Richards of San Pedro, Calif; Laura Leong of American Fork, Utah; David Groneman of Draper, Utah; and Polly Stoddard (Kenny) of Springville, Utah; and one sister-in-law, Diana Cox of Price, Utah. Merrill’s legacy includes 24 grandchildren; two great-grand children; 21 step-grandchildren, and 28 step-great-grand-children.
Merrill enjoyed and cherished his relationships with all of his family.
A viewing will be held at Walker Mortuary in Spanish Fork on Sunday, September 13, 2015, from 6 to 8 pm, and on Monday, September 14, 2015, from 9:45 to 10:45 am, at the Mount Loafer Ward chapel, located at 275 South 1400 East in Spanish Fork, Utah. Funeral Services will follow at 11am. Interment will be in the Spanish Fork Cemetery.
As a family we wish to extend our gratitude to the loving caregivers at The Stratford in Draper and to the hospice nurses, doctors and aides from Solstice Hospice.
It would be the family’s preference for donations to be made in Merrill’s honor to the Alzheimer’s foundation. Condolences may be sent to the family at: www. walkerobits.com