Children and Religion

Merle has always been very active in serving in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She has consistently showed by example her love for the Lord and her dedication to His service. She was very glad that both her and Wayne had served a mission before they married. They talked often about the great missionary work and expressed desire for their boys to serve on missions.

Everyone of their children served a mission and many of the spouses of their children were also returned missionaries.

This is where their children served:

Scott - France/Switzerland, David - Columbia, Shawn - Italy, Kevin - Florida, Julie - Spain, Matthew - Bolivia, Richard - Spain, Douglas - Pennsylvania

Their children's spouses who served:

Harriet - Italy, Verdell - Australia, Julie - Argentina, Shauna - Italy

Merle and Wayne chose to serve a mission as a couple and served in the West Indies Mission.

They have had five grandsons (up until now) serve missions in Italy, Wisconsin, Canada,Connecticut, and Kentucky and three more that are currently serving their missions in Spain, Sweden and Equador. Merle prays that she will have many more of her descendents serve. They've also had 3 of their married granddaughters' spouses who have served missions to California, Brazil and Australia.

The total hours spent by Merle and Wayne in the mission field, sharing the gospel is 6 1/2 years, that of her children 15 1/2 years and that of her grandchildren (when the other three return) 16 years, which makes a total of 38 years. Add the hours of her children's spouses, (6 1/2 years) and those of her granddaughter's spouses (6 years) it makes a total of 50 1/2 years that Merle and Wayne and their descendants and spouses have served full-time missions.