Merrill Kerr Gee

Judge Merrill Kerr Gee 4/12/1916 ~ 7/7/2006 Merrill Kerr Gee died peacefully of natural causes at his home in Salt Lake City at the age of 90 Friday, July 7, 2006. He was born in Rexburg, Idaho April 12, 1916, the fourth of five sons of William E. Gee and Mary Ellen Kerr Gee. As a young boy, he determined that some day he would like to fly his own plane and be an attorney. Both of these goals were met in his lifetime. Merrill graduated from Pocatello High School where he was active in band, choir, drama, and debate. He played saxophone in a dance band that performed for dances around the community. He attended college at what is now Idaho State University, where he was again very active in debate touring the Western States with his college debate team. He attended George Washington University Law School in Washington, DC, where he received his law degree. He met and married Dorothy Merrill, from Preston, Idaho, in the Washington DC chapel October 29, 1938. The marriage was solemnized in the Logan, Utah Temple July 12, 1939. Upon graduation from law school, Merrill moved back to Pocatello to be the head of the local Social Security office. He was then tapped to be the Assistant U. S. District Attorney in Boise, Idaho. Shortly after World War II, Merrill volunteered as a civilian attorney for war crimes in Germany where he was a judge in military courts. He and his family lived in Germany for two years and toured many countries in Europe. Upon returning from Europe in 1949, Merrill became the senior partner of the law firm of Gee, Hargraves, & Armstrong in Pocatello and Preston, Idaho. He also continued his lifelong commitment to church and public service. He was a ward choir director, early morning Seminary teacher, high counselor, counselor in the first Idaho State University Stake in 1965, and president of the Pocatello Stake in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Music was always an integral part of Merrill's life. He sang bass for many years in an award-winning Lions Club Quartet. He was the co-founder of a men's chorus, and president of the Community Concert Association. He was elected to the Pocatello School Board, and was president of the Idaho School Trustees Association, and then became a member of the National School Board Association. In these capacities, he testified before Congress several times on matters of education. Upon completing his private pilot's license, he became a Major in the Civil Air Patrol and was the group's legal advisor. He was also a member of the Tendoy Boy Scout Executive Council, and president of the Idaho Sixth District Bar Association. After practicing law for 25 years in Pocatello, he became an administrative law judge for the Social Security Administration first in Virginia, then California, and finally Salt Lake City. With his wife, Dorothy, he served two LDS missions, in South Carolina and at BYU-Hawaii. Merrill was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers; and his wife, Dorothy. He is survived by his children, Merrill Kerr II (Shauna) of Salt Lake City, Loni Gee Hackworth (Allen) of St. George, Utah, Gavin (Libby) of Boise, Idaho, and E. Preston (Janice) of Austin, Texas; 22 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchil-dren; and a brother, Lynn, of Stillwater, Oklahoma. With all his achievements, he will be best remembered as a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. Funeral services for Merrill will be held Tuesday, July 11, 2006 at 12 noon at the Mount Olympus 1st Ward, 4625 South Lanark Road (3315 East) Salt Lake City, where friends may call from 11-11:45 a.m. prior to the service. Interment will be at Rest Lawn Memorial Gardens in Pocatello Wednesday, July 12 at 11 a.m. Funeral directors, The Holbrook Mortuary.