Life of Merlene Newell Farnworth

Beloved wife, mother, grandmother and sister Merlene Newell Farnworth passed away on October 5, 2021 in Utah Valley Regional Hospital, under the loving care of her husband Blaine E. Farnworth, following several years of declining health and complications.

Merlene was born on February 7, 1939 to Oris James & Elva Newell in American Fork, Utah. She was born the second child in a family of four children. She was preceded in death by her mother and father, brother Ron O. Newell, sons Todd Allen Harward and Blaine (Scooter) Farnworth.

Survivors include husband Blaine E. Farnworth, siblings Ann Newell Holdaway, Larry Newell, and sons and daughters, K. Scott Harward, Teressa Harward Donaldson, Tammy Farnworth Cramer, Gwen Farnworth Reese, Troy J. Harward, Mark S. Harward, Brett D. Harward and Shiree Farnworth Hardy; as well as twenty-nine grandchildren, thirty-seven great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.

Merlene was born and raised in a house her father built on 600 East in Orem. Later as an adult, she ended up living next door to her childhood home for the rest of her life. She loved riding horses when she was young and her favorite horse was her daddy's buckskin named Nip. She grew up with her best friend Fern Knight and they were inseparable until Fern introduce her to Ken Harward, brother of Val Harward, Fern's own high school sweetheart. Ken and Merlene were married after she graduated in July of 1957. They were married in the Manti Temple and raised their five children as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They moved their family from one city to another throughout Utah, to Huntington Beach, California, and lastly to Denver, Colorado, where in 1972 they divorced.

Merlene then moved back home to Orem with the support of her loving parents. In 1972, she had a home built next door to her mom and dad and lived there until her passing. Faced with having to support her little family all by herself, she found a wonderful benefactor in Lyman Smith who gave her an opportunity to provide for her children at Smitty's Bakery in Orem. She worked there for four years until she met and married Blaine Farnworth in 1975. It was her best friend Fern who once again played matchmaker and introduced her to Blaine, a father of four. Blaine and Merlene dated for a whole two months before they fell in love and Blaine asked her to marry him. It turned out to be one of the bravest decisions they ever made, joining "his and hers" into one big happy family of nine children in a four-bedroom, one bathroom home. They were sealed in the Provo Temple in 1980 along with Tammy, Gwen, Scooter and Shiree.

For forty-six years, Merlene and Blaine worked side by side together to raise their large family. After their first year of marriage, she was able to quit her job at Smitty's Bakery and stay home to concentrate all her time and energy in taking care of her family and home. Blaine and Merlene loved to do everything together and could seldom be seen apart except for when Blaine was working at Geneva. Together they loved to camp, beautify their home, maintain and harvest their large garden and fruit trees and keep their family learning growing and busy. Family fun was an important aspect of their lives. They provided fun times with their family at Canyonlands, East Canyon, Lake Powell and many other adventurous vacations. They even found a way to load up all nine of their kids in an old station wagon and take them to Disneyland on their first family adventure. They always took their kids everywhere they went. It goes without saying that Blaine and Merlene loved each other deeply and were great examples to their family of how a husband and wife work together in love and righteousness.

Merlene loved and depended upon her Father in Heaven her entire life. She was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and humbly held many callings in the church; including serving as Primary President and Relief Society President in the Vermont 2nd Ward. It was her personal goal to minister to every single woman in the ward. One of her favorite callings was the Activities Committee Chair. Her talents shined as she organized many fun activities for the ward. She also served in the Timpanogos Temple for several years until her health prevented it. Regardless of the calling, she served with all her heart and went the extra mile in magnifying her love for her Father in Heaven. She raised all nine of her children to be faithful members as well. Nothing brought her more joy than to see her children do their best in trying to live the Gospel. It was, and is her deepest desire to live throughout Eternity alongside her family and loved ones.

Merlene's greatest joy was her family and her home. She worked tirelessly tending after the needs of her family and creating a beautiful, safe environment to raise her kids. To take care of her large family she found it necessary to perfect the tasks of cleaning up after and making meals for eleven hungry mouths, beautifying her home, working with Blaine in the garden, and her favorite pastime, planting, weeding, and nurturing hundreds of flowers throughout the year. She loved to fill her yard with beautiful flowers. In her later years she often took advantage of her well-earned quiet time by reading book after book. Of course, reading had to take a back seat to freezing corn and jam and canning peaches, apricots, grape juice, tomatoes, beans, and every other bountiful produce from her and Blaine's large garden every year. Most of that hard work ended up in the cupboards of their children and grandchildren as they shared their labor of love with all the kids.

Not only did she raise her garden and her children but she helped raise many of her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Her home was the favorite after school destination of many of her preschool and elementary aged grandkids. Every child knew her cookie cupboard was always well stocked with cookies and treats for little hands and mouths.

Merlene is loved by so many and she will be greatly missed but her influence will always be felt by those who love her most.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, October 14, 2021, at 11:00 am in the Orem Cascade 7th Ward Chapel, 400 North 400 East, Orem. A viewing for family and friends will be held Wednesday, October 13, 2021, from 6 to 8 pm at the Walker Sanderson Funeral Home, 646 East 800 North, Orem, and Thursday at the church prior to services from 9:30 to 10:30 am. Interment will be the Orem City Cemetery.

Condolences may be shared with the family online at www.walkersanderson.com