During Sam’s high school years he was on the wrestling team at Brighton High School in Salt Lake. It was his sport. The following is taken for a newspaper article written about Sam in 1974:
“Nearly a year ago Brighton High’s 98 pound wrestler, Sam Merrill faced the toughest foe in his young life and the test of time has declared him a winner.
Sam may be the lightest on the Wrestling team but he had to face the ultimate heavyweight, possible death, and he did so with a heavyweight amount of courage.
It was discovered that he had a brain tumor, later determined to be malignant, surgery was necessary.
In recalling the details of his ordeal, Sam seemed almost personally detached, unemotional and matter-of-fact.
On February 24, 1973 Sam entered the hospital. A cancerous tumor pressing on the optic nerve was discovered. Sam and his family were told he could die during the proposed operation for the removal of the tumor.
He can’t recall being given any alternative for the operation but remembers being told he could die. “I just asked Dad to do what he felt was right.” The operation was performed.
The only apparent side effect of the life-saving operation is the loss of sight in the right eye which Sam says doesn’t really bother him that much.
After a month in the hospital he was released and soon began running again to get back in shape for the wrestling season.
Sam came back solid as a varsity wrestler.
“I think wrestling is the greatest sport there is,” he says with pride, “especially for someone who is small.”
Sam? Small? Maybe physically but inside he’s got the giant amount of courage and spunk. He’s really a heavyweight in a small package. Sam may lose a battle now that then but he’s already won the war.
Sam meant Carolyn Vance during there last year at BYU. They were set up on a blind date. Carolyn said that what impressed her the most about Sam was that he made her feel good about herself – that he made her feel special. He made her laugh a lot. He was also very straight laced – a straight arrow. There was no deviating in what Sam felt was right or wrong.
She liked that fact that he was also very frugal.
I know that first hand. When we would go out to lunch – he would order a bean burrito for .59 cents and a class of water. He would eat for under a dollar and come home and tell Carolina about it.
After school both Sam and Caroline came home to Arizona.
One day Sam went to the temple with my Mother. Sitting behind my mother in the Temple was Carolyn. Sam could not catch up with her in the temple that night but made a point of looking her up. The started to date and soon fell in love and were married in the Mesa Temple.
When it came to food Sam was very particular. He did not like milk, ketchup or spaghetti. But he did like chocolate.
After Sam was in the hospital 14 years ago and had recovered enough to get around. I took him to a Diamondback baseball game. We had tickets to sets in one of the loges. All of the food and drinks were provided. Along with all the drinks and food came chocolate cake. He had not had chocolate cake for some time and he was making up for it. I was amazed at how much chocolate cake he could eat.
At the end of the game we were walking back to our truck and he was having a hard time walking straight. He was staggering. I said “Sam you had better be careful – some may see you and think you have been drinking.” His simple answer was “Oh, I hope not.”
During his life he did not want to ever appear to be out of step with the Lord and his church. He would not drink any cola product with caffeine and if you were drinking a cola product with caffeine he would get after you.
One family member said he like to drink diet Dr. Pepper. Because Sam gave him such a hard time about it he brought to work a non – caffeine diet Dr. Pepper. Sam was not impressed. He simply said that you should avoid the appearances of evil.
If I want to get under his skin I would tell him I was a University of Utah football fan and not a BYU football fan. He would say that I have gone over to the dark side.
Before Sam’s illness he was a very active man. He loved to snow and water ski, hike, camp, ride horse. Nothing held him back for full activity. 5 foot 3 inch Sam even like to played basketball. When he came home from work he would play the game of basketball with his boys and those in his neighborhood.
It is told that some of the young man occasionally wanted to wrestle Sam. They would take him on and Sam would always win.
Sam and I worked together in our little business. I know that Sam was not felling very well. I stopped in the hall as Sam was coming around the counter and gave him a hug because I know that he was not felling very good. He said “Don’t do that, I hurt all over.” That was on a Thursday.
That next Sunday Carolyn called and said that they had taken Sam to the emergency Room at the Chandler Reginal Hospital.
Within few days he was moved to Saint Joseph in downtown Phoenix. His condition has worsened.
As the family was gathered around his bed side the attending Dr. Said “Things are bleak, Get everyone in town.”
For the next four months Sam was in the hospital, most of the time in a coma. I and others would visit him. We would say,” Sam if you can hear me wiggle you finger or raise your eye brow.” And he would. There were days when that was the only response we would get from him. It was evident that he could hear us but could not respond in any other way.
Release as Bishop
The time came for Sam to be released from his service as the Bishop of his ward due to his health. On a Sunday, before Sam was to come home from the hospital the Stake Presidency came to visit him to issue an honorable release.
When they arrive and went into his room there was Sam with his suit and white shirt on ready for the visit. He also had a blue helmet on to protect his head. The blue helmet had a large “Y” for his school, BYU.
He would ware that helmet often after he came home.
All have watched these last 14 years how Carolyn has cared for Sam. She has done her best to make sure that all of his needs were meant. We have watched as she has attended to his every need. Temple attends was always important and they went together as often as they could. One of her biggest concerns was when the time would come that she could no longer take care of Sam. That happened 6 weeks ago after Carolyn broke her hip lifting Sam.
Carolyn you truly are angelic to us. We Love you for what you care that you have provided to make Sam’s time on earth comfortable and meaningful.
When Sam first became ill, our family and many of you questions why this would happen to such a good man. We viewed our family as doing what we should be doing and that these things happened to others but never to us. Sam was serving as the Bishop of his ward. All others in our family were striving to live the gospel. We were riding high.
Some would say but we have the priesthood and faith, why can’t Sam be healed?
The events of Sam’s illness caused us to search for answers and understanding. This caused us to pray more and to seek council from priesthood leaders, to read the scriptures and look to the teaching of modern day prophets and apostles.
What we found was that we were not exempt from life’s challenges.
“That ye may be the children of your father which is in heaven: For he maketh his sun to raise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matt 5: 45)
“Nearly a year ago Brighton High’s 98 pound wrestler, Sam Merrill faced the toughest foe in his young life and the test of time has declared him a winner.
Sam may be the lightest on the Wrestling team but he had to face the ultimate heavyweight, possible death, and he did so with a heavyweight amount of courage.
It was discovered that he had a brain tumor, later determined to be malignant, surgery was necessary.
In recalling the details of his ordeal, Sam seemed almost personally detached, unemotional and matter-of-fact.
On February 24, 1973 Sam entered the hospital. A cancerous tumor pressing on the optic nerve was discovered. Sam and his family were told he could die during the proposed operation for the removal of the tumor.
He can’t recall being given any alternative for the operation but remembers being told he could die. “I just asked Dad to do what he felt was right.” The operation was performed.
The only apparent side effect of the life-saving operation is the loss of sight in the right eye which Sam says doesn’t really bother him that much.
After a month in the hospital he was released and soon began running again to get back in shape for the wrestling season.
Sam came back solid as a varsity wrestler.
“I think wrestling is the greatest sport there is,” he says with pride, “especially for someone who is small.”
Sam? Small? Maybe physically but inside he’s got the giant amount of courage and spunk. He’s really a heavyweight in a small package. Sam may lose a battle now that then but he’s already won the war.
Sam meant Carolyn Vance during there last year at BYU. They were set up on a blind date. Carolyn said that what impressed her the most about Sam was that he made her feel good about herself – that he made her feel special. He made her laugh a lot. He was also very straight laced – a straight arrow. There was no deviating in what Sam felt was right or wrong.
She liked that fact that he was also very frugal.
I know that first hand. When we would go out to lunch – he would order a bean burrito for .59 cents and a class of water. He would eat for under a dollar and come home and tell Carolina about it.
After school both Sam and Caroline came home to Arizona.
One day Sam went to the temple with my Mother. Sitting behind my mother in the Temple was Carolyn. Sam could not catch up with her in the temple that night but made a point of looking her up. The started to date and soon fell in love and were married in the Mesa Temple.
When it came to food Sam was very particular. He did not like milk, ketchup or spaghetti. But he did like chocolate.
After Sam was in the hospital 14 years ago and had recovered enough to get around. I took him to a Diamondback baseball game. We had tickets to sets in one of the loges. All of the food and drinks were provided. Along with all the drinks and food came chocolate cake. He had not had chocolate cake for some time and he was making up for it. I was amazed at how much chocolate cake he could eat.
At the end of the game we were walking back to our truck and he was having a hard time walking straight. He was staggering. I said “Sam you had better be careful – some may see you and think you have been drinking.” His simple answer was “Oh, I hope not.”
During his life he did not want to ever appear to be out of step with the Lord and his church. He would not drink any cola product with caffeine and if you were drinking a cola product with caffeine he would get after you.
One family member said he like to drink diet Dr. Pepper. Because Sam gave him such a hard time about it he brought to work a non – caffeine diet Dr. Pepper. Sam was not impressed. He simply said that you should avoid the appearances of evil.
If I want to get under his skin I would tell him I was a University of Utah football fan and not a BYU football fan. He would say that I have gone over to the dark side.
Before Sam’s illness he was a very active man. He loved to snow and water ski, hike, camp, ride horse. Nothing held him back for full activity. 5 foot 3 inch Sam even like to played basketball. When he came home from work he would play the game of basketball with his boys and those in his neighborhood.
It is told that some of the young man occasionally wanted to wrestle Sam. They would take him on and Sam would always win.
Sam and I worked together in our little business. I know that Sam was not felling very well. I stopped in the hall as Sam was coming around the counter and gave him a hug because I know that he was not felling very good. He said “Don’t do that, I hurt all over.” That was on a Thursday.
That next Sunday Carolyn called and said that they had taken Sam to the emergency Room at the Chandler Reginal Hospital.
Within few days he was moved to Saint Joseph in downtown Phoenix. His condition has worsened.
As the family was gathered around his bed side the attending Dr. Said “Things are bleak, Get everyone in town.”
For the next four months Sam was in the hospital, most of the time in a coma. I and others would visit him. We would say,” Sam if you can hear me wiggle you finger or raise your eye brow.” And he would. There were days when that was the only response we would get from him. It was evident that he could hear us but could not respond in any other way.
Release as Bishop
The time came for Sam to be released from his service as the Bishop of his ward due to his health. On a Sunday, before Sam was to come home from the hospital the Stake Presidency came to visit him to issue an honorable release.
When they arrive and went into his room there was Sam with his suit and white shirt on ready for the visit. He also had a blue helmet on to protect his head. The blue helmet had a large “Y” for his school, BYU.
He would ware that helmet often after he came home.
All have watched these last 14 years how Carolyn has cared for Sam. She has done her best to make sure that all of his needs were meant. We have watched as she has attended to his every need. Temple attends was always important and they went together as often as they could. One of her biggest concerns was when the time would come that she could no longer take care of Sam. That happened 6 weeks ago after Carolyn broke her hip lifting Sam.
Carolyn you truly are angelic to us. We Love you for what you care that you have provided to make Sam’s time on earth comfortable and meaningful.
When Sam first became ill, our family and many of you questions why this would happen to such a good man. We viewed our family as doing what we should be doing and that these things happened to others but never to us. Sam was serving as the Bishop of his ward. All others in our family were striving to live the gospel. We were riding high.
Some would say but we have the priesthood and faith, why can’t Sam be healed?
The events of Sam’s illness caused us to search for answers and understanding. This caused us to pray more and to seek council from priesthood leaders, to read the scriptures and look to the teaching of modern day prophets and apostles.
What we found was that we were not exempt from life’s challenges.
“That ye may be the children of your father which is in heaven: For he maketh his sun to raise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matt 5: 45)
During Sam’s high school years he was on the wrestling team at Brighton High School in Salt Lake. It was his sport. The following is taken for a newspaper article written about Sam in 1974:
“Nearly a year ago Brighton High’s 98 pound wrestler, Sam Merrill faced the toughest foe in his young life and the test of time has declared him a winner.
Sam may be the lightest on the Wrestling team but he had to face the ultimate heavyweight, possible death, and he did so with a heavyweight amount of courage.
It was discovered that he had a brain tumor, later determined to be malignant, surgery was necessary.
In recalling the details of his ordeal, Sam seemed almost personally detached, unemotional and matter-of-fact.
On February 24, 1973 Sam entered the hospital. A cancerous tumor pressing on the optic nerve was discovered. Sam and his family were told he could die during the proposed operation for the removal of the tumor.
He can’t recall being given any alternative for the operation but remembers being told he could die. “I just asked Dad to do what he felt was right.” The operation was performed.
The only apparent side effect of the life-saving operation is the loss of sight in the right eye which Sam says doesn’t really bother him that much.
After a month in the hospital he was released and soon began running again to get back in shape for the wrestling season.
Sam came back solid as a varsity wrestler.
“I think wrestling is the greatest sport there is,” he says with pride, “especially for someone who is small.”
Sam? Small? Maybe physically but inside he’s got the giant amount of courage and spunk. He’s really a heavyweight in a small package. Sam may lose a battle now that then but he’s already won the war.
Sam meant Carolyn Vance during there last year at BYU. They were set up on a blind date. Carolyn said that what impressed her the most about Sam was that he made her feel good about herself – that he made her feel special. He made her laugh a lot. He was also very straight laced – a straight arrow. There was no deviating in what Sam felt was right or wrong.
She liked that fact that he was also very frugal.
I know that first hand. When we would go out to lunch – he would order a bean burrito for .59 cents and a class of water. He would eat for under a dollar and come home and tell Carolina about it.
After school both Sam and Caroline came home to Arizona.
One day Sam went to the temple with my Mother. Sitting behind my mother in the Temple was Carolyn. Sam could not catch up with her in the temple that night but made a point of looking her up. The started to date and soon fell in love and were married in the Mesa Temple.
When it came to food Sam was very particular. He did not like milk, ketchup or spaghetti. But he did like chocolate.
After Sam was in the hospital 14 years ago and had recovered enough to get around. I took him to a Diamondback baseball game. We had tickets to sets in one of the loges. All of the food and drinks were provided. Along with all the drinks and food came chocolate cake. He had not had chocolate cake for some time and he was making up for it. I was amazed at how much chocolate cake he could eat.
At the end of the game we were walking back to our truck and he was having a hard time walking straight. He was staggering. I said “Sam you had better be careful – some may see you and think you have been drinking.” His simple answer was “Oh, I hope not.”
During his life he did not want to ever appear to be out of step with the Lord and his church. He would not drink any cola product with caffeine and if you were drinking a cola product with caffeine he would get after you.
One family member said he like to drink diet Dr. Pepper. Because Sam gave him such a hard time about it he brought to work a non – caffeine diet Dr. Pepper. Sam was not impressed. He simply said that you should avoid the appearances of evil.
If I want to get under his skin I would tell him I was a University of Utah football fan and not a BYU football fan. He would say that I have gone over to the dark side.
Before Sam’s illness he was a very active man. He loved to snow and water ski, hike, camp, ride horse. Nothing held him back for full activity. 5 foot 3 inch Sam even like to played basketball. When he came home from work he would play the game of basketball with his boys and those in his neighborhood.
It is told that some of the young man occasionally wanted to wrestle Sam. They would take him on and Sam would always win.
Sam and I worked together in our little business. I know that Sam was not felling very well. I stopped in the hall as Sam was coming around the counter and gave him a hug because I know that he was not felling very good. He said “Don’t do that, I hurt all over.” That was on a Thursday.
That next Sunday Carolyn called and said that they had taken Sam to the emergency Room at the Chandler Reginal Hospital.
Within few days he was moved to Saint Joseph in downtown Phoenix. His condition has worsened.
As the family was gathered around his bed side the attending Dr. Said “Things are bleak, Get everyone in town.”
For the next four months Sam was in the hospital, most of the time in a coma. I and others would visit him. We would say,” Sam if you can hear me wiggle you finger or raise your eye brow.” And he would. There were days when that was the only response we would get from him. It was evident that he could hear us but could not respond in any other way.
Release as Bishop
The time came for Sam to be released from his service as the Bishop of his ward due to his health. On a Sunday, before Sam was to come home from the hospital the Stake Presidency came to visit him to issue an honorable release.
When they arrive and went into his room there was Sam with his suit and white shirt on ready for the visit. He also had a blue helmet on to protect his head. The blue helmet had a large “Y” for his school, BYU.
He would ware that helmet often after he came home.
All have watched these last 14 years how Carolyn has cared for Sam. She has done her best to make sure that all of his needs were meant. We have watched as she has attended to his every need. Temple attends was always important and they went together as often as they could. One of her biggest concerns was when the time would come that she could no longer take care of Sam. That happened 6 weeks ago after Carolyn broke her hip lifting Sam.
Carolyn you truly are angelic to us. We Love you for what you care that you have provided to make Sam’s time on earth comfortable and meaningful.
When Sam first became ill, our family and many of you questions why this would happen to such a good man. We viewed our family as doing what we should be doing and that these things happened to others but never to us. Sam was serving as the Bishop of his ward. All others in our family were striving to live the gospel. We were riding high.
Some would say but we have the priesthood and faith, why can’t Sam be healed?
The events of Sam’s illness caused us to search for answers and understanding. This caused us to pray more and to seek council from priesthood leaders, to read the scriptures and look to the teaching of modern day prophets and apostles.
What we found was that we were not exempt from life’s challenges.
“That ye may be the children of your father which is in heaven: For he maketh his sun to raise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matt 5: 45)
“Nearly a year ago Brighton High’s 98 pound wrestler, Sam Merrill faced the toughest foe in his young life and the test of time has declared him a winner.
Sam may be the lightest on the Wrestling team but he had to face the ultimate heavyweight, possible death, and he did so with a heavyweight amount of courage.
It was discovered that he had a brain tumor, later determined to be malignant, surgery was necessary.
In recalling the details of his ordeal, Sam seemed almost personally detached, unemotional and matter-of-fact.
On February 24, 1973 Sam entered the hospital. A cancerous tumor pressing on the optic nerve was discovered. Sam and his family were told he could die during the proposed operation for the removal of the tumor.
He can’t recall being given any alternative for the operation but remembers being told he could die. “I just asked Dad to do what he felt was right.” The operation was performed.
The only apparent side effect of the life-saving operation is the loss of sight in the right eye which Sam says doesn’t really bother him that much.
After a month in the hospital he was released and soon began running again to get back in shape for the wrestling season.
Sam came back solid as a varsity wrestler.
“I think wrestling is the greatest sport there is,” he says with pride, “especially for someone who is small.”
Sam? Small? Maybe physically but inside he’s got the giant amount of courage and spunk. He’s really a heavyweight in a small package. Sam may lose a battle now that then but he’s already won the war.
Sam meant Carolyn Vance during there last year at BYU. They were set up on a blind date. Carolyn said that what impressed her the most about Sam was that he made her feel good about herself – that he made her feel special. He made her laugh a lot. He was also very straight laced – a straight arrow. There was no deviating in what Sam felt was right or wrong.
She liked that fact that he was also very frugal.
I know that first hand. When we would go out to lunch – he would order a bean burrito for .59 cents and a class of water. He would eat for under a dollar and come home and tell Carolina about it.
After school both Sam and Caroline came home to Arizona.
One day Sam went to the temple with my Mother. Sitting behind my mother in the Temple was Carolyn. Sam could not catch up with her in the temple that night but made a point of looking her up. The started to date and soon fell in love and were married in the Mesa Temple.
When it came to food Sam was very particular. He did not like milk, ketchup or spaghetti. But he did like chocolate.
After Sam was in the hospital 14 years ago and had recovered enough to get around. I took him to a Diamondback baseball game. We had tickets to sets in one of the loges. All of the food and drinks were provided. Along with all the drinks and food came chocolate cake. He had not had chocolate cake for some time and he was making up for it. I was amazed at how much chocolate cake he could eat.
At the end of the game we were walking back to our truck and he was having a hard time walking straight. He was staggering. I said “Sam you had better be careful – some may see you and think you have been drinking.” His simple answer was “Oh, I hope not.”
During his life he did not want to ever appear to be out of step with the Lord and his church. He would not drink any cola product with caffeine and if you were drinking a cola product with caffeine he would get after you.
One family member said he like to drink diet Dr. Pepper. Because Sam gave him such a hard time about it he brought to work a non – caffeine diet Dr. Pepper. Sam was not impressed. He simply said that you should avoid the appearances of evil.
If I want to get under his skin I would tell him I was a University of Utah football fan and not a BYU football fan. He would say that I have gone over to the dark side.
Before Sam’s illness he was a very active man. He loved to snow and water ski, hike, camp, ride horse. Nothing held him back for full activity. 5 foot 3 inch Sam even like to played basketball. When he came home from work he would play the game of basketball with his boys and those in his neighborhood.
It is told that some of the young man occasionally wanted to wrestle Sam. They would take him on and Sam would always win.
Sam and I worked together in our little business. I know that Sam was not felling very well. I stopped in the hall as Sam was coming around the counter and gave him a hug because I know that he was not felling very good. He said “Don’t do that, I hurt all over.” That was on a Thursday.
That next Sunday Carolyn called and said that they had taken Sam to the emergency Room at the Chandler Reginal Hospital.
Within few days he was moved to Saint Joseph in downtown Phoenix. His condition has worsened.
As the family was gathered around his bed side the attending Dr. Said “Things are bleak, Get everyone in town.”
For the next four months Sam was in the hospital, most of the time in a coma. I and others would visit him. We would say,” Sam if you can hear me wiggle you finger or raise your eye brow.” And he would. There were days when that was the only response we would get from him. It was evident that he could hear us but could not respond in any other way.
Release as Bishop
The time came for Sam to be released from his service as the Bishop of his ward due to his health. On a Sunday, before Sam was to come home from the hospital the Stake Presidency came to visit him to issue an honorable release.
When they arrive and went into his room there was Sam with his suit and white shirt on ready for the visit. He also had a blue helmet on to protect his head. The blue helmet had a large “Y” for his school, BYU.
He would ware that helmet often after he came home.
All have watched these last 14 years how Carolyn has cared for Sam. She has done her best to make sure that all of his needs were meant. We have watched as she has attended to his every need. Temple attends was always important and they went together as often as they could. One of her biggest concerns was when the time would come that she could no longer take care of Sam. That happened 6 weeks ago after Carolyn broke her hip lifting Sam.
Carolyn you truly are angelic to us. We Love you for what you care that you have provided to make Sam’s time on earth comfortable and meaningful.
When Sam first became ill, our family and many of you questions why this would happen to such a good man. We viewed our family as doing what we should be doing and that these things happened to others but never to us. Sam was serving as the Bishop of his ward. All others in our family were striving to live the gospel. We were riding high.
Some would say but we have the priesthood and faith, why can’t Sam be healed?
The events of Sam’s illness caused us to search for answers and understanding. This caused us to pray more and to seek council from priesthood leaders, to read the scriptures and look to the teaching of modern day prophets and apostles.
What we found was that we were not exempt from life’s challenges.
“That ye may be the children of your father which is in heaven: For he maketh his sun to raise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matt 5: 45)
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
