Merrill K Ridd

Husband, Father, Grandfather, Great-grandfather, Teacher

A great man, Merrill Kay Ridd, passed away on Sunday, April 28, 2024 from causes incident to age. Born in Hunter, Utah, to Heber Eugene and Etta Day Ridd on August 19, 1932, he was proud to be part of a faithful family with a strong work ethic. He remembers with fondness working the farm in Hunter, and additionally working shoulder-to-shoulder with his brothers in home construction, his father’s profession. He graduated from Granite High School, and later attended the University of Utah displaying a particular interest in physical geography. While in college he entered the Naval ROTC, and upon graduation from the university in 1954 he served active duty, initially stationed in Hawaii. Merrill completed a master’s degree from the U, then a doctoral degree in Geography from Northwestern University in 1963, both of which prepared him for a distinguished career as a professor at the University of Utah.

Merrill’s early career included working for Salt Lake City planning where he laid the foundation for a modern Master Plan for communities in the Salt Lake Valley. His early work also included working for the Forest Service in Multiple Use research. In 1965, he took a position as the Associate Director and Editor of the Earth Science Curriculum project in Boulder, Colorado, before beginning his employment in the geography department at the University of Utah in 1967. Merrill embraced the emerging technologies of remote sensing and GIS (Geographic Information Systems) with enthusiasm, knowing how they would enhance the field of geography. With funding from NASA, he established the Center for Remote Sensing and Cartography in 1975, which served as a place to conduct and publish remote sensing research. While at the U, he would ultimately serve as an advisor for over 40 graduate students. Working with these students proved to be a highlight of his academic career. His later work in urban remote sensing modeling was recognized in the professional arena, both nationally and internationally. Throughout his academic career, he remained connected to the major higher education institutions along the Wasatch Front, always willing to offer his time and expertise in the interest of expanding geographic education. Merrill retired from the geography department at the University of Utah in 2004, and often reflected with gratitude on the opportunities that a career in academia afforded him.

Merrill met Joyce Kirkman on the University of Utah campus in 1951. He noticed her right away! They married in the Logan temple on June 12, 1954. While raising a family of five children, they lived in Chicago, Boulder, then finally settling in the Millcreek area of Salt Lake City. Merrill and Joyce raised their family in their home on Brockbank Way, a home he was proud to declare was built by his brother, Leon. Merrill worked hard and played hard. He loved the outdoors, hiking and camping with his family and performing field work with his many students. He enjoyed taking the family on road trips where he could study the landscape as he drove. Joyce once joked that he’d travel with a “map in one hand, a camera in the other, and the steering wheel between his knees.” Favorite family trips include visits to Canyonlands and Topaz Mountain within Utah, and cross-country road trips to the southern states, east coast, and Church historical sights. His passion for geography made each new trip interesting. He viewed the world through the lens of a teacher, always looking for ways he could share what he’s learning with his family and his students.

Merrill was a “people person.” He took a genuine interest in strangers he encountered, and could strike up a conversation with nearly anyone. He appreciated and relished in conversing with people of different backgrounds, and valued their differences. He took every opportunity to find the good in people. Merrill cherished his relationships with his students, many of whom he maintained contact with for many years after their graduation.

Merrill was a person of faith. A life-long member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he led by example in performing service to others. He served faithfully as a member of the stake high council for many years, and especially enjoyed working with youth in taking the sacrament to homebound members. He also volunteered at the Wasatch Youth Correctional Facility for several years. Merrill and Joyce served a service mission in the Granite Park Stake in Salt Lake City, and they later served full-time in the Washington, Seattle mission. Merrill had a passion for genealogy and spent hours researching his ancestry, enriched by the international interest in the Ridd line. His effort in family research he appropriately named the “Elijah Project”, recruiting several members of his extended family to help move the work forward. Merrill loved the gospel of Jesus Christ, and lived his testimony.

After Joyce’s passing in 2003, Merrill married CoDele Cook Eardley, a childhood friend from his early years in Holladay, Utah. Their combined family totaled ten children, with a growing number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Merrill and CoDele spent twenty years together, laughing, traveling, serving, and enjoying each other’s company. Merrill sweetly referred to her as “Coey”. CoDele was a true blessing for Merrill in his later years.

Merrill is preceded in death by his wife, Joyce, and siblings: Donald Ridd, Leon (Lucille) Ridd, Floretta (Rulon) Christensen, LaMar (Gwen, Jean, Beverly) Ridd, Dale (Marta) Ridd, Duane (Janet) Ridd, Jim Moss, Gordon Ridd, bonus grandchildren: Jamey Corkrey, Christopher Donan Eardley, and Kimberly Eardley.

He is survived by his wife, CoDele Ridd, sister Lavelle Moss, sister-in-law Susan Ridd, five children: Vickie Monsen, Kirk (Caroll) Ridd, Merri Joy (Wade) Bailey, Renee (Chris) Gluch, and Robyn Ridd, 15 grandchildren, and 23 great-grandchildren, five bonus children: Denise (John) Lambert, Rand (Kristi) Eardley, Leesa Corkrey, Kip Eardley, and Regan (Teresa) Eardley, 16 bonus grandchildren, and 19 bonus great-grandchildren.

The family wishes to thank the staff of both The Ridge-Cottonwood Memory Care Center and Canyons Hospice for their excellent care in recent months.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, May 6th at 11:00am at the Salt Lake Big Cottonwood Stake Center located at 1750 E Spring Lane in Holladay. Viewing prior to the service from 9:30am-10:45am. A Sunday evening viewing will be held at the Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park, 3401 S Highland Dr, from 5:00pm-7:00pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Merrill K. Ridd Scholarship Fund at: https://ugive.app.utah.edu/designation/143 Please include “Merrill Ridd Scholarship Fund” in the special instructions box. Scholarship donations may also be mailed to: University of Utah Department of Geography, 260 S Central Campus Dr. Rm 4625, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84112.