Gary Curtis Merritt

Jun 28, 2023

Gary Curtis Merritt, 86, of Provo, died peacefully Friday, June 23, 2023, after a battle with cancer. He was born October 6, 1936, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Aca Nathan Merritt and Edna Beatrice (Cude) Merritt. He married Jackie Barrett on January 8th, 1970 in the Salt Lake City LDS Temple. They were married for 18 years and had five children. In 1991, he married Darlene Peterson. They were married for nine years.

Gary enjoyed fishing, camping, dancing, reading, movies, theatre, road trips, cars, researching the scriptures, gathering with friends, and singing in the Utah Valley Single Adult Choir. He was a member of the Navy Reserve and served an LDS mission to The Netherlands. Gary attended the University of Utah and graduated from LDS Business College with an associate’s degree in Computer Science. He was a computer programmer, custodian, a licensed massage therapist, and a senior companion with Utah County Senior Companions for 22 years.

Gary was a hard-working and caring father, supportive grandfather, and a support and patriarch to many others. Gary had a big heart and loved his children, grandchildren, extended family, and friends dearly. He was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and loved sharing his testimony of Jesus Christ with everyone.

He is survived by his children Brett Curtis Merritt, Tiffany Lynn Rich (Tom), Jared Nathan Merritt, and Lynsey Marie Reynolds (Paul), his stepchildren Kristen Alene Smith, and Rodger Holden Smith, his 23 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his father and mother, son Jacob Aaron Merritt, sisters Marilyn Merritt King and Charlene Merritt McCann, brother Kenneth Aca Merritt, and stepdaughter Carrie Ellen Holt.

Funeral Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 1, 2023, at Sundberg-Olpin Mortuary, 495 South State Street, Orem, Utah. A viewing will be held from 9:30-10:30 a.m. on Saturday. Burial will be in the Salt Lake City Cemetery. Condolences may be expressed to the family at SundbergOlpinMortuary.com.