Hazel Valina Fausett McConkie Merkley
Our wonderful and loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother, sister, and friend, Hazel Valina Fausett McConkie Merkley, passed away at her home on Tuesday, 5 July 2016, of causes incident to age. Valina was born 8 September 1930 in Provo, Utah, to Elmer "Jack" Fausett and Minnie Addie Bigelow. On 10 July 1947, Valina married Charles Mac McConkie. They were later sealed in the Salt Lake Temple and were blessed with six children, four boys (Duane, Garth, Glenn, and Carl) and two girls (Louise and Valynn). On 21 August 1964, Valina lost both her husband Mac and her oldest son Duane in a tragic oilfield accident. Four years later, she met and married her second husband, Roland Lewis Merkley, on 30 November 1968, and they were blessed to have a little girl (Karen). Roland passed away unexpectedly of a heart attack on 20 August 1982, and Valina became a widow for a second time. She was blessed for the last 18 years to live next door to her son Glenn and his wife Dorothy. They and their family watched out for her on a daily basis, and our family will always be grateful for their dedicated service. During her last month on earth, her daughter Valynn lovingly cared for her, and we are so grateful for her tireless care. The family would also like to thank the wonderful staff of Good Shepherd Home Care and Hospice for the help and assistance they provided our mother during her last month. Valina's ambitions in life were straightforward and true. She always wanted to be a wife and a mother. She believed that "Motherhood is near to divinity. It is the highest, holiest service to be assumed by mankind. It places her who honors its holy calling and service next to the angels." When asked what she would do if she could spend a week doing anything she wanted, she said, "I'd spend it with my kids." It's what she loved to do, and we loved spending time with her. She was generous, gracious, unassuming, and humble. Not many have had to endure the trials she faced in her life, and we are grateful for her example of a loving, righteous, faithful woman enduring to the end. Valina was a lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She served in a number of positions in the Primary and Relief Society, was a ward librarian for years, and was a diligent visiting teacher. She dearly loved the temple and enjoyed her time as a temple worker in both the Provo and Vernal temples. She said her best days were spent in the temple. Even after she became home bound, she always kept her temple recommend current. Valina is survived by the following: children: Louise Goff, Garth (Melanie) McConkie, Glenn (Dorothy) McConkie, Carl (Kathy) McConkie, Valynn (Randy) Christopherson, and Karen (Kevin) Pummell; sister: Arloa (Von) Dickinson; 19 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren; and 8 great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband Mac; her son Duane; her second husband Roland; a daughter-in-law, DeAnn McConkie; a stepson, Rick Merkley; a grandson, Robert McConkie; a stepdaughter-in-law, Dianne Merkley; two sisters, Deon Merkley and Lorene Cribbs; and her brother, Neldon Reynolds.
Valina's funeral will be held on Saturday, 9 July 2016, 2:00pm, Naples 2nd Ward (2313 S. 1500 E., Vernal, UT). A viewing will be held there prior to the services from 12:45-1:45pm. Burial will be in the Vernal Memorial Park (1700 S. 500 E.) under the direction of the Ashley Valley Funeral Home. Online condolences may be shared at www.AshleyValleyFuneralHome.com.
