Eva (Eve) Merlene Merrill Scott, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend, passed away on January 19, 2023, in Meridian, Idaho, at the age of 97. She was born in Richmond, Utah, on January 11, 1926, to Reynold Cluff Merrill and Ann Little Merrill, the fourth of five children.
The Merrill Family lived in a modest farmhouse on the foothills of Richmond. During the Great Depression Eve and her family worked hard on the farm as they struggled to make ends meet and provide for the winter months ahead. Eve worked alongside her father in the fields and tended to the animals including her favorite horse, Pearl.
Eve attended school in Chico, California; Ephraim, Utah; and Richmond, Utah, where she graduated from North Cache High School. She enjoyed high school academics as well as social and sports activities where she developed many life-long friendships with her classmates. As valedictorian of her graduating class, Eve gave the commencement speech. She remembers it being a bittersweet experience since many of her friends were leaving home to join the military and serve in World War II. During the War Eve attended Utah State Agricultural College (Utah State University). Following her college experience she moved to Salt Lake City where she trained at LDS Nursing School and earned her R.N. degree. Eve, along with her sisters Mildred and Margaret, served their country as members of the Cadet Nurses Corps to help the war effort.
Eve married Molen Newell Rees, D.D.S. with whom she had two children, Dedra and Gary. That marriage later ended, and in 1958 she met and married Edward Bollis Scott, M.D., who had two daughters, Alison and Lisa. After Eve and Ed married, they added four more children to their new, rapidly expanding family: Lori, Edward, Sanford, and Marsha. Ed and Eve raised their family in Burbank, California, where they lived for over 40 years. A year following Ed’s death in 2003, Eve moved to Meridian, Idaho.
Most important to Eve was her family. She was a devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Eve also cherished her dear friends and many beloved pets; she especially had a tender place in her heart for dogs. She enjoyed playing tennis with her friends well into her 70s. Family history and genealogical name extraction were also an important part of her life, especially in her later years. Eve spent many hours relaxing with good books; she was primarily fond of stories about World War II. She also found great joy in reaching out to others and being of service.
Eve was a life-long member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with a deep, abiding testimony of her Savior. She served in various positions with diligence and faith and was richly blessed by the love, service, and fellowship extended to her by her ward family. During her many years in the church, she developed a myriad of dear and lasting friendships. She was loved by many and will be missed by those who knew her. The family is very grateful for her many Idaho friends who touched her life and helped care for her in her final years.
Eve was preceded in death by her parents and four siblings: Reynold Cluff (R.C.) Merrill, Mildred Thain, Margaret Olney, and Steven Merrill; her husband, Edward B. Scott, M.D.; and her daughter Alison Campbell.
She is survived by seven of her eight children: Dedra (Lanny) Cunningham, Lisa (Don) Immerwahr, Gary (Deborah) Scott, Lori (Steve) Henneman, Edward (Christi) Scott, Sanford (Leslie) Scott, and Marsha Scott. She is also survived by twenty-one grandchildren and twenty-eight great-grandchildren.
The family would like to express their appreciation for the tender care Eve received from the staff at the Edgewood Spring Creek Ustick assisted living facility. Thank you to Idaho Home Health and Hospice who helped Eve through her final days and acknowledged her service to her country by honoring her with a certificate of appreciation and an American flag. It was a memorable and touching event for Eve and her family. Many thanks to all those who showed her the love and attention she needed.
Funeral services for Eve will be held February 11, 2023, at 11:00 A.M. in the Meridian North Stake chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 5555 N. Locust Grove Rd., Meridian, Idaho, with a visitation to be held at 10:00 A.M. before the service. To watch the funeral service, please visit: https://vimeo.com/798538384 Private interment will be in Richmond Cemetery, Richmond, Utah.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to LDS Philanthropies.