Mary Ellen Edmunds 

March 3, 1940 – May 21, 2026

“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine” (Proverbs: 17:22)

Mary Ellen Edmunds, 86, lovingly called “Melon” and “MEE” returned joyously to her heavenly home, surrounded by her loving family, on 21 May 2026. To know Mary Ellen was to feel loved. Her presence filled rooms with laughter, faith, and light. She is remembered for her joyful life, countless smiles, hearty laughter, wonderful wit, lifelong service to others, literary and vocational accomplishments, and much more. But most of all, she is remembered for her devotion to, love for, and eternal friendship with her Savior, Jesus Christ.

Born on 3 March 1940, in Los Angeles, California, to Paul K and Ella Mary Middleton Edmunds, she was the second of eight children. She had fond memories of spending her younger years in humble but happy homes in Cedar City and Mapleton, Utah. She loved playing sports, the violin and working at Zion National Park. In her later years she lived in American Fork, Midway, and Orem, Utah.

Mary Ellen graduated from Brigham Young High School in 1958 and was an active, accomplished student writer who contributed to school publications, literary activities, and writing organizations from an early age. After high school she attended Brigham Young University, graduating in 1962 with a nursing degree.

Following graduation Mary Ellen served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Sains in the Southern Far East mission (1962-1964), one of the first two lady missionaries sent to the Philippine Islands. This was the beginning of a resolute, service-oriented life in Church missionary and welfare service. Upon her return, she served as a teacher, supervisor and assistant to the president and a BYU faculty nursing instructor (1965-1970). She also spent a brief time as a nursing supervisor at Utah Valley Hospital (1970-1972). In 1972, the Church called her up once again for missionary service and welfare training. She was the first health missionary sent to the Philippines (1972-1973), the Coordinator of Health Missionaries for the Church in Salt Lake City, Utah (1973-1975), and then in the Indonesia Djakarta Mission as the first lady and welfare services missionary (1976-1978).

In 1978, Mary Ellen returned to the United States to serve at the Church Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah, first as Associate Director of Special Training and later as Director of Training (1978–1995). Through her leadership and instruction, she helped prepare thousands of missionaries for successful service around the world. She retired in September 1995.

Mary Ellen also served on the Church Relief Society General Board from 1986–1997 and later directed the Thrasher International Program for Children in Nigeria from 1984–1985.

Mary Ellen also spent over four decades teaching the attendees of BYU Education Week and Know Your Religion, and was a cherished part of BYU Women’s Conference. She blessed tens of thousands of attendees with her gospel wisdom and delightful sense of humor. She also spent many years as an author for Deseret Book, writing over two dozen books and was a popular speaker for Deseret Book’s Time Out for Women. She also spent many years travelling to other Church held conferences, firesides, and devotionals, speaking across the world so others could be blessed by her testimony. She taught, “Our happiness lies in following the gospel of Jesus Christ—in having faith in Him, believing Him, coming unto Him, and becoming more like Him.”

Mary Ellen is preceded in death by her wonderful, loving parents, Paul K and Ella Edmunds; brother-in-law, Wendell B. Johnson; nephew, David A. Edmunds; and, great niece, Mary L. Cross. She is survived by her beloved and adored siblings: Paul K Edmunds, Jr. (Lisbeth), Charlotte E. Dowdle (Arthur), Susan E. Johnson, Frank M. Edmunds (Kathy), John M Edmunds (Melanie), Ann Edmunds (Dennis Tingey), Richard M. Edmunds (Glenda), and Pamela D. Janeway (Randy), along with numerous nieces, nephews, extended family, dear friends, missionaries, students, and grateful listeners around the world.

And because our Mary Ellen never left anyone without a smile, we leave you with one final postscript from MEE herself.

I’m so grateful for what I have learned from my parents about being cheerful, lighthearted, and—yes—sometimes silly…I’ve done a lot of thinking about the difference between lightheartedness and lightmindedness. I think lightmindedness is thoughtless—literally, without thought…It separates us from the Spirit. It’s the things we talk and laugh about that don’t encourage, cheer, or edify.

However, lightheartedness is goodness—joyful goodness. It includes all that blesses and happifies us and others. It’s being of good cheer while focusing on the things that matter. It’s a virtue…Our Heavenly Father and the Savior want us to experience joy, happiness, and good cheer!”—MEE, April 2004

As requested by Mary Ellen, rather than sending flowers or other monetary tributes, please find ways to use that money in helping the poor and the needy.