12/26/2025
Christy Terkelson Merrell
July 15, 1965 — December 22, 2025
Vernal
Christy Louise Terkelson Merrell, 60, of Vernal, Utah, passed away Monday, December 22, 2025, at her home surrounded by family. She was born on July 15, 1965, in Ogden, Utah, a daughter and second child of Beverly Louise Bird and Charles Ray Terkelson.
She was a high school graduate from Uintah High School in Vernal, Utah, in 1983.
She married Kenneth L. Atwood of Vernal, Utah, on December 2, 1983. Together they had one daughter, Ashely Marie Atwood. Christy and Kenneth later divorced.
She then later met and married Dan Earl Merrell of Vernal, Utah, on February 16, 1991 in Vernal. Together they had one son, Steven Glen Merrell. Dan adopted Christy’s daughter, Ashely.
She and Dan were sealed and solemnized to each other and to their children in the Vernal, Utah Temple on February 27, 1999. Christy and Dan later adopted their granddaughter Cheyenne Marie Merrell around 2006, and Cheyenne was later sealed to Christy and Dan in the Vernal, Utah Temple on August 7, 2010.
Christy was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in a number of callings including librarian and nursery teacher. She had a deep love, faith and testimony of her Heavenly Father and Savior, Jesus Christ.
She enjoyed making and sharing various arts and crafts (gifts) for friends and family including cross-stitch sewing/needle work and crochet (blankets). When her eyes and hands could no longer sew and crochet, she enjoyed working on diamond/gem art pictures. She loved giving gifts to those she knew to add love, kindness, and a bright spot to their lives. She also loved outdoor recreational activities with her family including rafting, camping, fishing trips, and mountain drives along with hunting for Christmas trees. She loved to see all forms of nature in the mountains of the Ashley National Forest and surrounding public lands.
She is survived by her husband of thirty-three years, Dan Earl Merrell, her daughter, Ashley Marie Merrell Lane of Vernal, her son Steven Glen Merrell of Vernal, her adopted granddaughter Cheyenne Marie Merrell of Vernal, Brandon Merrell of Vernal and Justine Merrell formally of Vernal and currently of Pennsylvania (two sons from Dan’s previous marriage), and seven grandchildren.
She is also survived by her mother, Beverly Louise Bird Terkelson Wiseman of Vernal, her brother Joe Scott Wiseman of Vernal, and her sister Tracy Wiseman Harrison formerly of Vernal and currently of Springville, Utah.
She is preceded in death by her father, Charles Ray Terkenson of Ogden.
Memorial service will be conducted Saturday, January 3, 2026 at 11 am at the Davis Stake center visitation 1 hr prior.
