Veda Merkley Parkin

Our family reverently rejoices over our mother's heavenly reunion with her eternal companion and previously departed loved ones.

Veda Merkley Parkin
Born May 7, 1926 -- Passed away December 21, 2022

If you knew mom, you knew that she came as a pair and she has been anxious to regain that status. She fought her way in to this world on the ranch of her parents, Morgan and Irma Merkley in Maeser, Utah, just 15 minutes behind her twin sister. For the next 18 years they were practically joined at the hip, working and playing on the ranch that they loved, moving closer to town during the school year.

Following high school graduation, the two of them headed off for the big city of Provo, Utah, with only pocket change between them until they could find jobs. Mom was enrolled at Brigham Young University for a short period of time but was forced back to Maeser when she came down with her third bout of rheumatic fever which took a toll on her body, on her schooling and it created one of the two largest and longest physical separations she and Velda would experience during their lifetime.

Mom married Robert Court in 1946. Their marriage resulted in the birth of two children, Douglas and Judy. That marriage dissolved in 1955. In 1959 mom met Frank Parkin, a widower, and in late December of that year they were married. Frank had five children of his own and so our little family of three moved to Nephi and became a family of nine. A few years prior to dad's death in 2002, Velda moved in with mom and helped her take care of him. It was during this time they began their daily walks of 2 to 3 miles around town which they became somewhat famous for.

Mom loved the Lord and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She was a lifetime member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and served the church and ward members in many callings. It was a calling from the church that resulted in the longest and greatest distance separation of mom from Aunt Velda when mom and dad were called to a church mission in the Philippines.

In addition to serving the Lord, Mom and Aunt Velda loved Nephi and their neighbors and enjoyed serving them in all sorts of ways. It became their habit to carry a trash bag with them on their daily walks and they would pick up bottles, cans and other forms of trash along their route.

Mom is survived by her 7 children: Fred (Marsha), Ellen (Darrell), Carl (Maria), Doug (Christie), Angela (David), Judy (Lynn) and Janette; 31 grandchildren, 88 great grandchildren and 28 great, great grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister, Phoebe Jane, and her brother, George D.

Mom was preceded in death by her huband, Frank; her parents; 2 brothers, Glindon and Junior; 3 sisters, Clella, Sybil and Velda; and granddaughter Tammy Parkin Cowburn. A huge thank you to Beverly Anderson for the special relationship she had with mom and Aunt Velda.

The family would like to thank The Hearthstone Manor in Spanish Fork and their wonderfully attentive staff, the staff of Laurel Groves with a special thanks to Jan Reed and Amberlee Worwood for the excellent care they gave mom while she was there; Julianne Parkin for her care while mom was on home healthcare and a very special thank you to Bev Anderson for always being there whenever she was needed by mom and Aunt Velda.

Funeral services will be on Thursday, December 29th, 2022, at 11:00 am, Nephi Fifth Ward Chapel. A viewing will be held prior to the service from 9:30 - 10:30 am. Mom will be laid to rest in Nephi at the Vine Bluff Cemetery.