Merlyn Eardley

Merlyn Fern Lupher Eardley was born on November 1, 1928, the first child of Allene Hamilton Lupher and Mostyn Clark Lupher in Mountain View, WY. She was the oldest of three children; her younger siblings were Jim and Charlie. She died on July 20, 2011 at her home in Mountain View, Wyoming of pancreatic cancer.

Fern spent her years growing up in Mountain View at the family ranch surrounded by aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents and extended family. She learned to work very hard at an early age and spent many years trying to perfect the art of getting out of housework. She loved to work outdoors and became one of the top hands during haying; she could drive a team and a hay rake with the best of them.

She graduated from Mountain View High School in 1948 and furthered her education at the University of Wyoming where she participated in shooting sports and basketball. She also had the opportunity to make life long friends with Nancy Soltero and Nonie Nirider. The three of them have been getting together as often as possible and even last summer had a good visit together at the Eardley Ranch.

After graduation from the University in 1951, she began her teaching career in Big Piney, Wyoming. She taught in Big Piney for 3 years. It was during this time that she met Darius W. Eardley. After dating for a while, they got married on June 12, 1954. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Salt Lake City Temple in 1980. They moved to Greys River to live where Darius was working as a tie hacker.

While living at Greys, their first son, Jim Dee was born—Mom tells the story about waking up in the middle of the night to feed him and having to break the ice on the milk before they could warm the bottle.

About 1956 they moved back to Mountain View to help Grama Chase run the ranch because Uncle Jim needed a break from ranching. They built a home on the ranch and spent the next few years ranching. During this time, their second son, Matt, was born in 1959.

Fern went back to teaching Home Ec in Mountain View in 1958. During her career at Mountain View she was instrumental in starting the girls sporting programs. She spent many years coaching volleyball, basketball, and track. She also encouraged her students

To learn cross-country skiing by taking them on field trips to ski.

In 1997, Fern was inducted in the Coaches Association Hall of Fame for her many years of service. She also received the Golden Bell Award, which is given by the Wyoming School Board Association to outstanding teachers and educators.

Fern retired from teaching in 1993 after having taught her own children and two of her grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. She spent her retirement following her grandchildren in their various activities—football, basketball, volleyball, wrestling and cheerleading. We have been cross-country skiing in Pinedale, WY; getting snowed-in over South Pass, braving the blazing sun at BYU; getting lost in Casper, WY because we could find the mall but not Kelly Walsh High School and always checking out the shopping at Powell, WY; Cody, WY; Chadron, NE; Las Vegas, NM; Davis, CA; Grand Junction, CO; Casper, WY; Provo-Orem, UT, Spearfish, ND; Laramie, WY and Rock Springs, WY. Shopping was the other hobby she took up after retirement—unfortunately, no one in the family could keep up with her, so we had to take turns and then we had to rely on Cass & Natalie to pick up the slack.

The greatest time of Fern’s life was time she spent with her many friends-golfing with Gayle, cross-country skiing, snow shoeing and just visiting. She was so lucky to have so many special friends that she shared such great memories with. Her greatest joy was getting to live on the ranch with her sons and their families and her grandchildren. We always know there would be biscuits and gravy ready for us on Sunday morning or whenever we needed it. We have the wonderful opportunity of living together on the ranch—four generations in all, that got along together most of the time.

Fern is survived by her husband of 57 years, sons, Jim Dee (Karen) and Matt (Patrica) Eardley all of Mountain View, WY. Grandchildren: Jeremy (Kayce) Eardley and Angie (Don) Jones of Mountain View; Cody (Stephanie) Eardley, Lyman, WY; Mindy (Edgar) DeLeon of Rock Springs, WY; Timmy (Teni) Eardley of Laramie, WY; and Duke (Stephanie) Eardley and fiancé, Stephanie Hillman, of Evanston, WY. Great-grandchildren: Preslee Jones, Carson Eardley, Coby Jones, Reagan Eardley, Aston DeLeon and Chase DeLeon. Brother Jim (Myrna) Lupher: sister-in-law Vonda (Mellie) Platts and brother-in-law Gerald Gardner and Kenny Near. She was preceded in death by her parents, grandparents, brother, Charlie, daughter, Lisa; a niece, Gail Branham; sister-in-law Lois Gardner and Zoë Ann Near and parents-in-law, Walter and Leora Eardley.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, July 25, 2011 at the Mountain View LDS Church, viewing will be Sunday from 6 pm to 8 pm and one hour prior to services.