Merrill C. Fillmore, age 84, died Sunday, October 24, 2021 in Price Utah after a long battle with lung disease.
He was born October 21, 1937 in Castle Dale, Utah to Cloyd C. and Lucille Christiansen Fillmore. He grew up in Castle Dale and Lawrence and attended schools in Castle Dale, South Emery High and North Emery High.
At the age if 17 he left home on a life journey that would take him many places. At 18 he enlisted in the U.S. Army where he received training as a medic. He spent 2 years in Germany, a place he recalled often.
He married Freda Lynne Thorderson on December 27, 1958. He was stationed at Fort Riley Kansas for 3 years where he received more extensive training as a medic. He was discharged in 1962 with six years of duty. He learned the trade of house painting and traveled many places in Kansas. During this time he and his family moved to the small town of Paxico, Kansas where friendships were made that have lasted his lifetime.
In 1971 the family moved back to Cleveland where he has lived for the past fifty years. He was a farmer and livestock owner, truck driver, and coal miner. He worked at Des Bee Dove, Cottonwood and the coal washing plant until his health wouldn’t allow him to work.
He loved to travel and with his wife was able to travel the Midwest and western states. They spent twelve winters in Arizona, but due to his health has spent the last six years surrounded by his children and grandchildren which he loved dearly and was so proud of all of them.
Merrill is survived by his wife of 62 years, Freda; his children, Tracy Randall, Wayne (Laura), Cleveland, Sherrie (Bob) Nichols, Price, Paul (Tammy) Fillmore, Topeka, KS, and Peggy (Kelly) Farnsworth, Orangeville; 20 grandchildren, 35 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandchild.
He was preceded in death by his father and mother; brother, David; grandson, Keith Alan Randall; sons-in-law, Gary (Sundance) Okerlund and Keith T. Randall.
Funeral service, Thursday, October 28, 2021, 11:00 a.m., Cleveland Ward Chapel where the family will receive friends on Thursday beginning at 9:30 a.m. Interment, Cleveland Cemetery. Arrangements entrusted to Mitchell Funeral Home where friends are always welcome daily and may share memories online at www.mitchellfuneralhome.net.