Jane Merrill

1933 - 2025

Virla Jane (Janie) Payne Merrill

1933 - 2025

- Virla Jane (Janie) Payne Merrill, loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend joined her beloved eternal companion Jay in the spirit world on September 22, 2025.

Jane was born 14 November 1933 in Virden, New Mexico. She was the ninth child born to Junius Edward Payne and Sarah Jones Payne. Jane was very involved in volleyball and tennis in High School, lettering in both sports and was also yearbook editor. She was the Valedictorian of her class. While attending BYU, Jane met Jay W. Merrill. They were married in the Mesa, Arizona Temple 25 November 1952. Jay and Jane lived in Idaho for 41 years where they raised their six children and owned and operated several businesses. In 1993, Jay and Jane moved to Salt Lake City, Utah. Jane moved to Ogden, Utah in 2021.

Jane was a wonderful wife, mother, homemaker, businesswoman and best-selling author. She was an amazing seamstress, making most of her children's clothes in the early years, and teaching sewing classes at night for the community education program. Jane taught her daughters and other girls as a 4-H leader. She was famous for her delicious homemade whole wheat bread which she shared freely with friends and neighbors. Jane taught baking classes at their Magic Mill Center in Burley, Idaho. Jane co-authored 3 cookbooks with her daughter Karen. Jane was involved in the community as president of Soroptimists, a service organization for professional women. Jane and Jay taught classes at BYU Education week for many years.

Jane was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints serving in many callings including Primary President, Relief Society President and counselor, YW Counselor, YW Sports director, Relief Society Teacher, Food Storage and Preparedness specialist, and dedicated ministering sister.

Together, Jay and Jane served two missions for the Church: Salt Lake City Temple Square Mission, and as Directors of the Joseph Smith Birthplace Memorial in Sharon, Vermont. They served as ordinance workers in the Mesa, Arizona, and Salt Lake Temples for twenty years.

Jane is survived by three daughters: Karen (Merrill) Sunderland, North Ogden, Utah; Debra Parks, Loveland, CO; Julie (Rick) Dooley, Sandy, Utah; three sons: Alan (Debbie) Merrill, Mesa, Arizona; Dale (Debbie) Merrill, Alpine, Utah; Junius (Julie) Merrill, Las Vegas, Nevada; 28 grandchildren, 69 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandson. She was preceded in death by her husband Jay, parents, two sisters, Florence Johnson, Edna Christensen, and 6 brothers: Lothair, Elvin, Albert, Edward, Art and Bill Payne.

Jane has left a legacy of love, faith. and family. As Jane often said, "Family is what this life AND the next is all about."

The family would like to thank the staff and caregivers at Auberge Senior Living in Ogden, Utah for their kind, and loving service to our mother.

Funeral services will be held at Larkin Sunset Gardens Mortuary, 1950 E 10600 S, Sandy, Utah, at 11 am on September 30, 2025. A viewing will be held at the mortuary prior to the funeral service from 9:30am to 10:30am.

Due to cemetery construction, there will be no graveside service.

For those unable to attend, services will be streamed via Zoom. Please visit Jane's obituary page at www.larkinmortuary.com for link.