Merlin Clegg Mackay

Merlin Clegg Mackay passed away on June 22, 2025 in St. George Utah, surrounded by his loving family. He was born July 29, 1941 in Murray, Utah to William Lloyd Mackay and Eva Clegg, fifth of six children.

He considered his life ordinary with no significant disasters or special events. However, evidence shows otherwise. He took several trips down the Colorado and Snake Rivers in canoes. He joined the Utah National Guard and spent six months on active duty and served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Australia.

In 1963, he married Dawn Evelyn Greenlees in Salt Lake City, Utah and had three children, Janelle, Troy, and Kurt. That marriage was annulled in 1969. Merlin's relatives offered to take the children, but he was adamant that he retain full custody, all the while working full time for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Merlin married Edith Ellen Dicks on Aug 28, 1970 in the Salt Lake Temple. He wholeheartedly took on the responsibility of helping raise Edith's three children, Joe, Julie and Jill in Elko, Nevada. They had two more children, Jennifer Elaine in 1972 and Kenneth David in 1975. He tried fervently to treat all the children equally.

Merlin's determination to care for his family was manifested through his career with the FAA. Starting in 1967, he worked rotating, weekend, and overtime shifts for 38 years to provide earthly comforts and mission and education expenses before ever pursuing his desire to become a pilot.

He enjoyed an aviation class in high school and failed the class because he didn't realize he had to write a paper. After working many years with pilots, he joined the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) learning to fly with expenses paid by the CAP and observing many flights. Soon, he had an opportunity to join a corporation of four in ownership of a Cessna 182. He flew several search and rescue missions, locating downed aircraft and helping save lives.

While in Santa Barbara, California, Merlin learned to scuba dive and bought a small boat from which he dived for abalone. He used other talents and skills to help people load moving trucks and trailers, always insisting they load in a logical way for optimal balance.

Upon retirement in 2005, Merlin never wanted to get up early again or fill out mountains of paperwork. But his career enabled him to fly all over the world in cockpit jumpseats to visit children finishing missions or military training. After 9/11, he bought his tickets, and took Edith on vacations to Europe, Australia, China, and Africa.

He went on to fulfill other items on his bucket list, including sky diving, bungee jumping, and snow skiing. He became certified as an amateur ham radio operator and enjoyed connecting with other hams throughout the world. When he could no longer fly due to Parkinson's, he sold his part of the airplane and joined Ethan Bunker in partnership to restore an old tractor similar to models he used in his youth.

As his mobility declined, Calling on Angels and Iron County Health and Hospice assisted in keeping him safe and on his feet for a long time.

Viewings will be June 27 at 7-8 PM at the Cedarview Chapel at 320 South 925 West, and on June 28 from 10 to 10:45 AM with funeral services to follow at 11:00 AM. After the service, interment will be at the Cedar City Cemetery under the direction of Heartlight Funeral Services.

www.heartlightfs.com/ In lieu of flowers, please contribute to a Parkinson's group: utahgwep.org. or swpdfit.com