Merle Mecham Jorgensen passed away on Monday, June 27, 2005, after an extended illness. She was born May 16, 1924, in Bloomington, Bear Lake, Idaho, the only daughter of Everett Hess and Lillie Dunford Mecham.

She married LeRoy I. Jorgensen on June 14, 1946, in the Logan LDS Temple. They have five children - Carol (Richard Jensen), Bruce (Risa Tew), Joyce (Sid Jensen), Mary (Tom Wilding), and Barbara (Michael Clawson). They also have 21 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. Three of her grandsons are currently serving LDS missions.

Merle received her elementary and secondary schooling in Logan. She graduated from USU as the valedictorian of her graduating class in June 1945. She worked as a secretary for the Logan Home Building Society and the Logan City School District. She also taught shorthand and typing at South Cache High School.

Through many years of her life, Merle served in various LDS ward and stake offices. She was active in Hyrum and Logan civic affairs. She enjoyed the friends and experiences she and Roy shared through their years in the CES program of the LDS Church, dry farming, and extensive world traveling. They served together as special representatives for the Church in Israel for 18 months. Merle coordinated the Women's Affairs during that time. Each of their children and spouses visited them in Israel.

Merle was a Golden Gleaner and first runner-up to Mrs. Utah. She was a popular guest speaker on several subjects, including humorous readings. She was an officiator, group supervisor and assistant matron in the newly-remodeled Logan Temple. She also carried on much of her mother's genealogy and family history work. Merle will be remembered for her pleasant personality and gracious presence. Her two long-standing mottos were:

I have wept in the night for
The shortness of sight
That to somebody's need made me blind;
But I never have yet felt a twinge of regret
For being a little too kind.

*****

People will forget what you say,
People will forget what you did,
But people will never forget how you made them feel.

Merle is survived by her children; grandchildren; great-grandchildren; and five younger brothers: Melvin (Janet Pond), Norman (Karma Rae Rex), Glenn (Anna Mae Parson), Edward (Vicci Hullinger), and Kenneth Mecham. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and grandson Tyler Jensen.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, July 1, 2005, at noon, in the Hillcrest 2nd Ward, 875 North 1500 East, Logan. Friends may call Thursday from 6-8 p.m. at the Allen-Hall Mortuary, 34 East Center, Logan, and on Friday from 10:00 to 11 :30 a.m. at the church.

Interment will be in the Logan Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Sunshine Terrace Foundation. Condolences may be sent to the family and a guest book signed on line at Allen Mortuaries.