Robert “Bob” Clifford Merrill

Robert Clifford “Bob” Merrill, 92, passed away peacefully on January 6, 2020 after a full and interesting life.  Robert was born April 12, 1927 to Clifford and Vera Merrill in Safford, AZ.  He married his first love, Bettie, with whom he shares three children, Lianne, Stephen and Kevin. Robert retired after working 22 years for Salt River Project to care for Bettie until her death from cancer. They were lucky to have celebrated over 40 years of marriage together.  He then married wife, Bessie, whom he spent several happy years with before her death, also from cancer.  He then found and married his next companion, Zilan, whom he also spent several loving years with until her death from heart failure.  Robert then met his match with beloved wife, Janet, and lived an active and happy life with her until the day he died.  He was blessed to serve many couples church missions throughout his married life for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His hobbies included fishing, diving, bowling and card games with family and friends.  Robert is preceded in death by wives Bettie Jane Jelte Merrill, Bessie Laverne Jepson Merrill and Zilan Janet Hollingshead Merrill; grandsons Kevin Clifford “KC” Merrill and Christopher Brent Whiting.  He is survived by wife, Janet Cleone Hillstrom Steffen-Merrill; sisters, Shirley Merrill White and Elaine Merrill Ellsworth; brother, Richard Allen Merrill; children, Lianne Ruth Merrill (Ted) Langston, Stephen Brent (Kathy Barrow-Kimball) Merrill, Sr. and Kevin Scott (Beverly Taylor) Merrill; 7 stepchildren; 15 grandchildren; 54 great-grandchildren and 8 great-great-grandchildren.  Memorial services are Saturday, January 18, 2020, 11am-1:30pm, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2265 S. Hawes St., Mesa, AZ 85206.  Flowers can be delivered to the memorial services.