Merlin R Kitchen

Merlin R Kitchen, beloved son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle and friend peacefully returned to the arms of his Savior and beloved wife on February 11, 2026, in Issaquah, Washington. He was 90 years old.

Merlin was born on April 20, 1935, in Orem, Utah, son of Ruby Ellis and Ralph Winfred Kitchen. He grew up in Provo, alongside younger siblings Glen and Carol. He attended Timpanogos School, Dixon Jr. High School and Provo High School, graduating in 1953 and serving as co-valedictorian.

He studied for two years at BYU before serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the British Mission for the years 1955-1957. Before leaving on his mission, Merlin met his sweetheart, Carolyn Stice, and they married after his mission in the Salt Lake Temple on September 12, 1957.

Merlin continued his studies at BYU and graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Chemical Engineering and a minor in Math. It was there in Provo that he and Carolyn became parents for the first time to their son, David.

Merlin took a job in Midland, Michigan, at Dow Chemical Company where he worked for thirty years, and achieved a Master's Degree from University of Michigan. His biggest accomplishment at Dow was developing a proprietary software language called "Dowtran" to control processes. Merlin and Carolyn were blessed with five more children while in Midland: Marilyn, Kathleen, Diane, Donald and Julie. Friendships made there lasted a lifetime. After retiring from Dow Chemical in 1990, he and Carolyn and his youngest two children moved to Orem, Utah, to return to their family roots. He started his retirement life, which led to his passion of family history work. He was the go-to expert on all things genealogy, serving the community by teaching classes and facilitating temple work, alongside Carolyn, for decades.

He was a faithful member of his church, serving wherever he could find a need, busy in fatherhood, church service, and household duties. He was a Mr. Fix-It and could tackle any problem and was generous with helping others; always a phone call away to his children and grandchildren for help or advice. While on business trips to Baton Rouge over the years, Merlin came to love cajun cooking and learned how to replicate it at home. He was known for his jambalaya and Mongolian beef, a favorite Chinese dish he made at home. But if you have ever been treated to Merlin's unforgettable grilled chicken, then that is probably what you think of when you think of him with an apron on. His chicken was legendary and frequently requested at family functions. Imported charcoal briquettes and "Bavarian Gold" from Michigan were his two "must-haves" to grilled chicken success.

Merlin's father introduced him to the automotive world. One of Merlin's biggest accomplishments showcasing his practical automotive skills was building an entire 22-foot motorhome from the chassis up during a two- to three-year period in the early seventies. He researched, ordered parts and assembled it using his "can-do" attitude and know-how and catalogs. The motorhome was a testament to his ingenuity.

He was a loving and patient caregiver to Carolyn, who died in 2014 after 57 years of marriage. He remarried in 2015 to Carol Spader, of Federal Way, Washington, and was a loving companion to her for 9 years before her passing. He lived his remaining year and a half with his daughter and son-in-law, Kathleen and Tim Myers, in Issaquah, Washington. Merlin loved ice cream and the color red. We ask that funeral attendees wear something red in his honor.

He is survived by his younger siblings, Carol (John) Platt, Glen (Pat) Kitchen and all his children: David (Nancy) Kitchen, Marilyn (Gary) Smith, Kathleen (Tim) Myers, Diane Warburton, Donald (Lolis) Kitchen, and Julie (Patrick) Stevenson. He and Carolyn were the grandparents of 15 and great-grandparents of 17.

We will be celebrating Merlin's life on Saturday, February 21, 2026 at the Walker-Sanderson Funeral Home, 646 E. 800 N., Orem, Utah. Viewing hours will be 9:30-10:30am and the funeral will be begin at 11am.

Digital broadcast can be found here live and will continue to be available for six months. Link: www.walkersanderson.com

Interment will be at the Orem City Cemetery, 1520 N. 800 E., Orem, Utah.