Merril James Hamilton

He was born January 21, 1940, in Price, Utah, to Clarence Merril and Lois Shirley Parry Hamilton. He married his high school sweetheart Alene Josephine Fasselin on November 26, 1958, in Price, Utah. They and their children were sealed in the Manti Utah Temple on June 26, 1965.

Merril grew up in Helper, Utah, where he attended Helper Junior High and often reminisced about walking from the school to a bakery down the hill that sold delicious Long Johns (donuts). He graduated from Carbon High School in Price, Utah, in 1958. He worked at Keller’s Market while attending the College of Eastern Utah and helped in the creation of the Prehistoric Museum in Price in the early 1960s. He moved his family from Price to Salt Lake City so he could attend the University of Utah on a scholarship he had received from CEU. He worked in the Anthropology Department at the Utah Museum of Natural History and created many displays at the museum when it was located on the UofU campus. After graduating from the UofU, he worked for Young Electric Sign Company as a sign designer and art director. In April 2002, he was awarded First Place in the International Sign Association’s 56th Annual Sign Design Competition and traveled to Florida for the award ceremony. He retired from YESCO after 30 years of service.

An accomplished artist and master craftsman, his paintings of wildlife, scenery, and people in his custom-made frames hung in galleries and were sold nationwide. He won countless awards and his work was featured in many art show publications. He was a member of the Miniature Artists of America from 1990 to 2025. Many years of his retirement were spent painting and building frames in his home art studio, traveling to photograph wildlife and scenery, and making one-day trips to Jackson Hole and back to place his work in galleries there. Not bad for a guy who flunked art class in school because he wouldn’t do things their way!

Merril had a wry sense of humor and we all loved his quips. Snow is vulgar and should stay in the mountains. Utah storms consist of three drops of rain and five pounds of dirt. He readily expressed his disdain for unleashed dogs, doves, and the government – until Jodie would cut in with “seen any good movies lately?” And if you ever crossed him, he might have put the Curse of the Seven Jackals upon you!

Merril loved spending time with his family! Going to Moab, hiking in Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, and going to Pumpkin Chuckin’ Festival are memorable times. Chatting over coffee with Ashley and Austin. Movie nights with Brittany and her family. Family game nights when we could coerce him into playing! Recounting his travels and adventures in the deserts and mountains. Having breakfast and playing checkers with his great-granddaughters at Cracker Barrel. Going to “The Nut House” (aka Western Nut) every year on Black Friday. Cooking his delicious Dilled Salmon for us. He loved squirrels and would frequently report on the ones scurrying up and down the tall pine trees in his backyard. He raked up seemingly endless bags of pine cones and needles every Fall! Many winters were spent shoveling (and cursing!) snow with his neighbors Carol and Lonnie. He was an avid movie watcher and the staff at Sunridge Assisted Living loved to pop in and watch a few minutes of Jumanji with him on a daily basis until he finally grew tired of it. Old-time westerns, The Mummy Returns, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny or the Last Crusade, Murder by Death, The Ghost and Mr. Chicken, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, and the Hallmark Murder She Baked series were tireless favorites!

Merril lived in the home he and Alene had built in a cul-de-sac on Clermont Drive in Granger (now West Valley City), Utah, from February 1975 until he moved to Sunridge Assisted Living on his 84th birthday in 2024. Our family is very grateful for the loving care provided by the amazing Sunridge staff around the clock, as well as Dr. Matthew Johnson at the UofU Westridge Clinic, and the staff of Atlas Home Health and Hospice and of Mindful Mobile Medicine.

Merril is survived by his sister Ginger Hills, daughter Jodie Lynn Hickman, grandchildren Ashley Cloward, Brittany (Stephen) Edwards, and Austin (Rachel Spring) Cloward; great-granddaughter Adara Hamilton and her mother Teddi Bird; and great-granddaughters Rebecca, Samantha, and Valentine Edwards.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, his children Lori Jo, Randall James, Laurie, and Dory Hamilton; his grandson Joshua Merril Hamilton; siblings Marilyn Behunin, David Hamilton, and Ann Smith.

Family and friends are invited to gather and celebrate Merril’s life on Saturday, April 25, at an open house from 1:00-3:00 p.m. at Valley View Memorial Park and Funeral Home 4335 W. 4100 S. in West Valley City, UT. Merril’s ashes will be placed near Alene and Laurie.