Merry Tobler Watkins

Merry Tobler Watkins passed away Friday May 12, 2023 surrounded by her four children after a valiant battle with dementia. Merry was born February 18, 1948 in Rigby, Idaho to Rondy Samuel Tobler and Carrie Myler Tobler. She was raised primarily in Preston, Idaho following her father’s early death when she was just three years old.

Merry attended Preston High School and later attended both Utah State University and Weber State College. While attending Weber she met Raymond Ford Watkins. They were later married on August 19, 1970 in the Salt Lake City Temple. Together they raised four children in Brigham City, Utah. They were later divorced.

Merry worked as a custodian for the facilities management group of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints for 22 years. She first worked in the Brigham City area and after her children were grown she moved to Logan, Utah and worked as a custodian for the Institute and other church meetinghouses including the Logan Tabernacle. She often commented on how kind the students and teachers were to her there. Any time she drove past a church building that she had cleaned, she’d point it out and say, “I’ve cleaned that one” or “I hated the stairs in that one”.

Merry loved to cook, sew, and garden - all of which she learned from her mother who was a home economics teacher. Her favorite thing to bake was chocolate chip cookies and one could never visit her home without finding her making them or a jar full of them. She also enjoyed reading and doing painting and ceramics when she had time.

Merry was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and served in various callings throughout her life but enjoyed doing temple work weekly the most up until her health did not permit her.

Merry’s greatest joy in life was her family. She would sacrifice anything and everything for her four children, nineteen grandchildren, and one great grandchild. She is survived by her children: Carl (Doriene) Watkins of Plain City, Jay (Shaleen) Watkins of Saratoga Springs, Karen (Collin) Steel of Wellsville, and Ben (Desta) Watkins of Nibley as well as her brother Ron (Kathryn) Tobler of Herriman.

There will be a viewing Thursday evening from 6-8p.m. at Nelson Funeral Home located at 162 East 400 North in Logan, Utah. Services will be held Friday May 19, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. at the Nibley 14th Ward Chapel located at 1584 W 3200 South in Nibley, Utah with a short viewing prior from 9:30-10:15a.m.
Following funeral services Merry will be laid to rest at the Clarkston, Utah Cemetery.

The family would like to thank the staff at Maple Springs Memory Care for the kind care of their mother during her stay there. With special thanks to Becky with Aegis Home Health and Hospice - we are so grateful for your compassion and guidance.

To view the live stream funeral service, click the following link, password: Watkins
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86222414902?pwd=N0IvSjBiZjFVVG9PbEVPWkdaQ1d2Zz09