Phyllis Merrell Miller

West Bountiful – Our beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend, Phyllis Merrell Miller, passed away peacefully on June 14, 2024. She was 91 years young.

Phyllis was born on February 3rd 1933 in Rupert Idaho to Albert Ervin and Celia Eldredge Merrell. After growing up in Blackfoot Idaho and graduating from Blackfoot High school in 1951, she moved to California to attend San Bernardino Valley College, working as a nanny while going to school. When She graduated from Jr. college she chose to continue her education, graduating in 1955 with a degree in Elementary Education from BYU. She remained an avid supporter of BYU and its football team, never missing a televised game.Phyllis taught school in Provo until leaving on a two-year mission to Brazil for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Phyllis loved her mission and the Brazilian people. 

In 2010, her daughter, Esther, was able to take her on vacation back to Brazil.Following her mission, Phyllis taught 1st and 2nd grade in SLC. She and a friend signed up to teach for the Dept. of Defense overseas and taught 3 years in England and 2 years in Germany, where she was thrilled to be able to travel all over Europe when the school was out for summers. 

Returning home the summer of 1967, she arrived in New York and drove her dad’s new car from NYC to West Bountiful with her mom and a few friends. While she was home that summer, she was set up by her mom and Ariel’s mom for a trip to the Logan Temple. Ariel, knowing a good thing when he saw one, asked her out before they got home. Phyllis returned to Germany and taught one more year. While there, she and Ariel wrote letters back and forth and when she quit her job she moved home expecting to marry Ariel, even though he hadn’t asked her yet! They were married on August 23rd 1968 in the Salt Lake Temple. The couple was blessed with two children, Alma and Esther. 

When her children were old enough, Phyllis got her Special Education certificate from Weber State, then returned to teaching, this time Special Ed at Bolton Elementary in Bountiful, for 13 more years.

Phyllis really enjoyed china painting, which was a shared experience with her mother and children. After retirement, she became passionate about scrapbooking. Every Monday “going scrapbooking” with her daughter and friends.Phyllis is survived by her children Alma (Michael) and Esther, two grandchildren Kennedy and Hunter, her sisters Joyce Virgen and Marea Rueckert, and many nieces and nephews.

Services will be held Friday, June 21st, at 11:00 am, in the West Bountiful 2nd ward house; 840 North 800 West, where friends may attend a viewing 9:30 - 10:30 that morning. Interment will be at the Bountiful City Cemetery.

Services will be streamed live on Russon Mortuary Live Facebook page and this obituary page.