Beryl Gene Sawyer Morrill

Beryl Gene Sawyer, 88, passed from this mortal life on May 24, 2025, at her home in West Valley City, Utah. She was born on June 27, 1936, to Edward Earl Sawyer and Mabel Inez Spragg in Lewistown, Montana. Beryl was the youngest of 9 children and often spoke of her experiences growing up in the waning years of the Great Depression. The challenges her family experienced during her childhood years shaped her life, but didn't dampen her sense of humor, warm friendship, and love she shared with everyone she met. She was the type of person who was a good friend, always thought the best of everyone around her, and was eager to get to know the people in her neighborhood. Her knowledge of our family lineage was without bounds, and it was always insightful to hear her recall names, relationships, and even special dates of family members going back generations. She loved helping others gain a passion for genealogy, teaching, training, and motivating them to learn more about their family history.

Beryl graduated from Fergus County High School in 1954, where she met the love of her life, Richard Morrill. She then moved to Spokane, Washington where she earned an associate degree from Kinman Business University. During the Korean War, her soon-to-be husband, Richard Morrill, enlisted in the Air Force in 1953 and then received orders to deploy to Hawaii. Before being shipped out, they married in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, on January 28, 1955. They loved their time in Hawaii, the people and culture, and often talked about their experiences living on the island. While there, they were sealed in the Laie, Hawaiian Temple on January 27, 1956. After Richard's discharge from the Air Force, they stayed in Hawaii to attend college, where she was Valedictorian and earned an associate degree from the Church College of Hawaii (BYU Hawaii) in 1959. After returning to Utah, they moved to Logan, Utah where she completed her Baccalaureate Degree in 1961, from Utah State (Utah State University).

After graduating, they moved to Hunter (West Valley City), Utah where they bought a house in 1962. She then taught school for a year in Wendover, Utah and later worked for the phone company before starting a family. Beryl was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in numerous callings in her ward and stake. She served in the Baptistry at the Jordan River Temple for 6 years and served in various Scouting callings and participated in Round Table. Her favorite calling was researching genealogy, which led her to teach many members of her stake and ward on how to research family history using the computer. She taught computer-based Family History at the Kearns Senior Center. Beryl's love for the community led her to become active in politics, including involvement in the effort to incorporate West Valley City. She held numerous caucus and mass meetings at her house and was a State and County Delegate.

Beryl was happiest spending time enjoying the beauty of nature, be it hiking, camping at the family's beloved property in Fairview, Utah, or gardening in her yard. More than anything, she loved being surrounded by her family, telling stories around a campfire or playing boisterous card games and Dominoes Chickenfoot in the camp trailer.

Beryl is the parent of three children: Keith; Scott (Elisa); and Melinda (Jared Curle); and ten cherished grandchildren: Jordyn (Nathan Rock); Jaden; Jenna; Elisabeth (Alex Rooney); Anna; Spencer; Rebecca Morrill; Summer (Jaron Anderson); Jeremy; and Madelyn Curle, and 1 great-grandson.

Beryl is preceded in death by her husband, Richard Keith Morrill, of 67 years, her 6 brothers, Lawrence; Ralph; Norman; Roy; Theodore Sawyer, and 2 sisters, Judith James; Dorthy Shammel, and grandson, Christian Curle.

Words cannot express our family's appreciation to the tender loving care and support to our mom from the Nurses Chealsea RN, Nelly CNA, Marcus CNA, Social Workers, and Clergy at Canyon Hospice.

A viewing for family and friends will be held on Saturday, May 31, 2025, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m., after which Funeral Services will begin at 11:30 a.m. Both will be at the Jannette Ward Chapel located at 5065 West Janette Avenue (3965 South) West Valley City, Utah. Interment at Valley View Cemetery located at 4400 West 4100 South, West Valley City, Utah.

The service can be livestreamed at: https://zoom.us/j/96508630493#success