UDALL, Mary Lou

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona ~ 06/10/2016 Mary Lou Udall, 69, went to sleep in Ruidoso, N.M., and woke up in heaven Sunday, June 5, 2016. She was born July 23, 1946, in Eagar, the daughter of Edgar Barton and Inez Magdalena Rollins Merrill. Mary Lou was a loving and gracious lady. She was loved by her family and friends alike. She was creative and artistic and enjoyed memorizing and sharing poetry. Mary Lou was a talented cook and could use power tools like a pro. She always had a project in the works. Mary Lou married Stephen G. Udall in 1966. They moved back to St. Johns in 1976 where the two raised their family. She died just short of celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary which would have been on July 28. Her kind and loving presence will be missed by her family and those who knew her. Mary is survived by her husband, Stephen G. Udall of St. Johns; sons Barton T. (Michelle) Udall and S. Spence (Kirstin) Udall, both of St. Johns, daughter Cameron (Joel Larson) Udall of Bisbee; brother Fred Merrill of Phoenix; sisters Susan Waite of St. Johns, Jerrie Merrill of Eagar, Vonna Merrill of Springerville and Roxi Merrill of Springerville; and 10 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and brother Barton Merrill. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 11, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, St. Johns Downtown Chapel, with visitation one hour prior. Interment will follow services at the St. Johns Westside Cemetery. Burnham Mortuary of St. Johns handled arrangements. To leave an online condolence for Mary Lou’s family, visit www.burnhammortuary.com.