The Episcopal Diocese of Utah
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JERRY MERRILL, PRIEST, TEACHER, AND ACTIVIST, DIES AT 80
December 12, 2005

The Rev. Jerry Merrill died peacefully Saturday, Dec. 10 at St. Joseph's Villa. He was three weeks shy of his 81st birthday. During his nearly 40 years of active ministry in two denominations he worked tirelessly to end poverty, house the homeless and help Salt Lake City's Spanish-speaking population.

In 1968 Father Merrill helped form SOCIO--Spanish Speaking Organization for Community Integrity and Opportunity-which helped found the Migrant Council of Utah. He was someone who thought outside the box before the term was coined. He started a Mexican restaurant, La Morena, at 346 West 100 South (where the Delta Center now stands) that was a popular downtown lunch destination. It was a project to help Spanish speaking resident learn job skills and make money. La Morena later moved to a location on 400 South near St. Patrick's Catholic Church.

Father Merrill used the same model of free enterprise to help the unemployed when he began the Lotus Project in 1987. It provided jobs to the homeless making wood products. For that work he was given an Outstanding Community Services award from the National Council on Ethnic Studies in 1993.

He was also worked to eliminate housing discrimination in Utah. A senior citizen housing complex in Magna bears his name. He also helped start the Guadalupe Center in 1966.

Born Jerald Hayden Merrill Dec. 30, 1924 in Rigby, Idaho, he was graduated from the University of Utah in 1948. His theological training was at St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Seminary, Menlo Park, California. He served the Roman Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City from 1957 to 1980. He was received as a priest into the Episcopal Church by Bishop Otis Charles on May 1, 1986.

He married the former Carole Ann Migden on Oct 17, 1982. They have one son, Marc.

Funeral services will be held Friday, Dec. 16, 12 Noon, Cathedral Church of St. Mark, 231 East 100 South, Salt Lake City. The Right Rev. Carolyn Tanner Irish, Bishop of Utah, will preside.

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