Toni Merrill Davis

1945 - 2022

Toni Rae Merrill Davis

1/1/1945-9/3/2022

South Jordan, Utah - Toni Rae Merrill Davis, our loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother joyfully passed away on September 3, 2022 at the age of 76 at her home in South Jordan, Utah, surrounded by her loving family and holding the hand of her beloved husband.

Toni was born in Salt Lake City, Utah to Marriner H. Merrill and Erika B. Merrill on January 1, 1945. She was the 6th child of six. Toni spent her youth full of energy and spunk which started her on the path of developing life long friendships.

Toni married Roger John Davis on December 16th, 1966 in the LDS Salt Lake City Temple. Toni met Roger while attending school at BYU. After they were married they finished their schooling in Provo, Utah. Toni graduated with a degree in Early Childhood Development and spent nearly 30 years as an elementary school teacher. Toni loved to learn and continued her advanced education pursuits until retirement.

Toni and Roger raised 2 children in Sandy, Utah which was her greatest joy. She was often found bragging about her love of her children and grandchildren.

Toni had a love of music and sang with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir for 21 years where she traveled the world for her love a music and made a name for herself with her mischievous jokes and pranks. Toni loved to perform and bring joy to others through her signing even outside of the choir.

Toni was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She served in many callings in the church but her greatest joy was her 21 year missionary assignment with the choir.

Toni & Roger served a 3 year mission as Church Employment Specialist while living in their Riverton home.

Toni's favorite past time was writing poetry for those she loved. She would often be found drafting a poem for a wedding, special occasion or funny moment that she felt needed to be eternalized through a rhyme. She was known to just show up with her newly drafted lyric ready to brighten someone's day.

Toni loved people and made a point at making sure they knew she loved them. She wanted to talk to everyone and lived life with the assumption that everyone wanted to talk to her. If you came into her life you were never forgotten. She seemed to run into someone she knew everywhere she would go, even on vacation. She would often be stopped by former students that were now grown and she would look into their eyes and remember who they were and express memories and heart felt feelings towards them.

Toni had zest, spunk and a jokester side that she loved to let loose with her friends, choir friends and co-workers. She had a flare for the dramatic and loved a good time.

Toni bravely endured a life of challenges and embraced the motto of "the scriptures always said 'And it came to pass', they never say 'And it came to stay'. She knew that all of this lives hardships would be but a brief moment compared to the eternal happiness that awaited her.

Toni is survived by Roger John Davis (husband), Brandon Davis (son) & wife Vikki Davis, Dani Radcliffe (daughter), 9 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren and extended family and friends.

Toni is proceeded in death by Marriner Merrill (father), Erika Merrill (mother), Darleen Merrihew (sister), Gordon Merrill (brother), Sandra Covey (sister), Lynn Merrill (brother), Lynda Merrill (sister), and dear friends Anne Callister, Beth Elmer and Cherry Hamrick.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, September 9th at 11:00am at Larkin Sunset Gardens, 1950 E. Dimple Dell Rd. (10600 S.), Sandy, Utah. Friends are invited to greet the family prior to services for a viewing from 10:00 to 10:45am. Interment to follow services also at Larkin Sunset Gardens.