Merlin Gene Cheney
May 18, 1939 ~
Apr 26 2022
Merlin Gene Cheney passed away on April 26th at home in Ogden, Utah, just three weeks shy of his 83rd birthday. He was born in Archer, Idaho to Theron Allen Cheney and Dorothy Frances Mayes on May 18, 1939. Who would have thought this small boy from a small town in Idaho would go so far?
The third of nine children, he grew up on a farm, a life of hard work, animals, and struggling to make ends meet. He learned about planting and harvest, shouldering responsibilities, completing tasks. He loved flowers and gardens and growing things, with his home surrounded by trees of every kind, especially those bearing fruit.
Education was always important to him. At seventeen he was off to college, earning a BA in English, which was quickly followed by an MA and a Ph.D. At twenty, he found Donna Ragon, married her, and they began a family.
He found a position at Weber State in English when it was a small state college. As the institution grew, he filled it with programs he designed and innovative instruction that changed the lives of students and resonated with colleagues nationwide.
He traveled the world, six of the seven continents (sorry Australia!), but his heart belonged in England. He took students with him to that isle where he planted history, poetry, music, architecture, language in those who went with him, and those seeds continue to bear fruit.
He could never sit still. He designed and built the home he lived in. That home he filled with books, poetry, reading, laughter, stories. He fed everyone who came through the ever-open door and gave shelter to those who needed sanctuary. He held many callings in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He dearly loved serving seven years as a Branch President at the Weber County Jail. He loved, counseled, and nurtured without judgment and believed in kindness paired with accountability.
He could be impatient, sharp-tongued, distractable, and he often got lost in his own thoughts. But he was a good and caring father, husband, teacher, leader. dr Cheney is remembered with love and gratitude by his many thousands of students. He taught his family to dream big and that the greatest gift is to take care of others.
He is survived by his five children, Michael, David, Laurel, Benjamin, Adam, their spouses, Sunga, Annie, Patrick, Rachel, eleven grandchildren and one great grandchild, and his second wife Janet. In addition, there are many, many unofficial children who are dear.
Cremation and funeral services by Lindquist mortuary in Ogden. (Live Streaming of the service will be available.) Flowers by Jimmy’s in Ogden. A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, May 14 at 10:00 am at the Waterfall Canyon Ward house at 3254 Polk Ave, Ogden, UT 84403. Bring pie if you like.
Published by The Salt Lake Tribune from May 5 to May 13, 2022.
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