Merla Ilene Gibson Ashton Obituary (1927

Merla Ilene Gibson Ashton, devoted and cherished wife, mother, daughter, sister, grandmother, great grandmother, and great-great grandmother, passed away March 1, 2021 of natural causes, at the age of 93. She was born June 23, 1927, in Enoch, Utah, to Vera Maxwell Gibson and Murl Hunter Gibson. She is survived by her daughter, Holly (Aaron) Wayman, son - James Grant, sister - Elizabeth (Thomas) Wieland, and several grandchildren. Merla received her Practical Nursing Degree from Salt Lake Technical Institute (Now Salt Lake Community College) in 1960. She started her nursing career at Salt Lake County General Hospital, and from there worked in NBICU at the University of Utah Medical Center until her retirement in 1990. From there she worked for IHC, doing in home health care for six more years. She married Art C. Ashton on April 9, 1960. Together they had four children. Merla is preceded in death by her parents, 7 siblings, husband - Art, and children, Kathleen, Clyde, Vern, and Helen. She also is now in heaven with her best fur-baby (and best friend) - Rufus. The family would like to give special thanks to the wonderful staff at Capitol Hill Assisted Living, Salt Lake City, Utah, for providing her with warm and kind care in her last days. Merla being a generous and giving person, and for her love of babies and dogs, in lieu of flowers, please donate to a charity that supports their causes. A viewing will be held at Neil O'Donnell Morturary, 372 East 100 South, SLC, Utah, from 11:00 A.M. to Noon (private family viewing begins at 10:30 A.M. same day) March 8, 2021. Internment will take place at Wasatch Lawns Cemetery, 3401 South Highland Drive, SLC, Utah.