Merlin Jester

Merlin Orlo Jester, known tenderly by his loved ones as "MO," was an adventurous soul born on November 1, 1933, in Minnesota. Merlin's love for discovery and exploration was evident in his life's journey, from his birthplace to his final residence in West Haven, Utah, with stops in Miami, Oklahoma, and Bear Lake, Utah. As Mark Twain once said, "Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do." This quote perfectly captures Merlin's spirit and zest for life. His adventurous nature was not only manifested in his travels but also in his hobbies which included fishing, camping, woodworking, building, planting, 4-wheeling, horseback riding, and hunting.

Merlin was not only adventurous but also compassionate, generous, and funny. He had a knack for turning everyday moments into memorable ones filled with laughter. He was generous not only with his resources but also with his time, always ready to lend a helping hand or share a funny story. Merlin served as a Sergeant in the United States Air Force from 1952 to 1974 and was in both the Korean and Vietnam wars. He later continued his civil service at Hill Air Force Base as an airplane mechanic where he utilized his associates degree in welding and mechanics from Weber State University. His passion for mechanics and building was evident in his work and his hobbies, and he took great joy in sharing his knowledge with others. "The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well," said Ralph Waldo Emerson. Merlin embodied this quote, living a life full of compassion and generosity.

Merlin's greatest joy, however, was his family. He was a loving father, brother, uncle, grandfather and great grandfather. He is survived by his granddaughter, Amber Wolfe; daughter, Marilyn Miller; niece, Amanda Blair; grandsons, Allen Miller, Doug Miller, Logan Camarena, and Adrian Camarena; granddaughter, Gabby Camarena; other grandkids, great grandkids; sister, Idella Jester; and sister in law, Ann Linton Bateman. Merlin was preceded in death by his father, Vern Jester; mother, Gladys Jester; spouses, Mary Stephens and Olive McCall; daughter, Florence Jester; sister in law, Maxine Jones; son, Vern Jester; and brother, Delmer Jester. As he often said, "Family is not an important thing. It's everything." Merlin's love for his family was his guiding light, and his memory will continue to shine brightly in their hearts.

We invite all who knew Merlin to share memories and upload photos to his memorial page, https://my.gather.app/remember/merlin-jester. Your stories and pictures will help keep his adventurous spirit, his compassion, his generosity, and his humor alive in our hearts.

The family will be holding a private service for Merlin.

All services entrusted to Myers Mortuary in Ogden, Utah.