Merrill Godfrey MD

Merrill Anderson Godfrey, M.D.

October 26, 1934 ~ December 4, 2021

Merrill Anderson Godfrey, M.D., 87, passed away peacefully Saturday, December 4, 2021, surrounded by family at McKay-Dee Hospital in Ogden, Utah. Merrill was born on October 26, 1934, in Lovell, Wyoming, the oldest of three children, Richard, Larry.

Merrill married Donna Gibbs on June 3, 1956, they later divorced. On July 21, 1984, Merrill and Evelyn Campbell were married, embarking on a union of love, family, friendship, compassion, service and adventure, happily celebrating 37 years together.

Merrill attended the University of Wyoming where he earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. Merrill attended graduate school in Nebraska where he received a medical doctorate from the University of Nebraska College of Medicine serving his medical residency at the University of Utah Hospital and Dee Memorial Hospital specializing in obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN).

Merrill established a medical practice in Ogden, Utah where he resided and served the community. He was a partner in the Ogden Women’s Clinic delivering babies and providing women’s healthcare for nearly 30 years. His calm and soothing demeanor as a caregiver is an attribute forever remembered by his patients.

In addition to a successful medical practice, Merrill fulfilled many roles within the McKay-Dee Hospital organization including Medical Staff President, Medical Director, Chief of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and was a member of the board of trustees. Merrill also served as vice-chairman of the IHC Health Plans board of directors.

After retiring from fulltime work in 2000, Merrill volunteered as a part-time health care provider primarily providing patient care at the Ogden Rescue Mission.

Merrill was a member of the Rotary Club of Ogden and was recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International in appreciation of tangible and significant assistance among peoples of the world. Merrill was also a recipient of the Rotary Club of Ogden Brett Richards Memorial Service Award.

Merrill enjoyed traveling the world with Evelyn. Together, whether it was by plane, ship, car or motorhome, they visited unique destinations encompassing both pleasure and humanitarian objectives. Their humanitarian initiatives included administering polio vaccinations in Delhi, India, sustaining school and service projects in Ecuador and procuring and distributing medical equipment in Mexico.

Merrill had many hobbies. Some of his favorite outdoor pastimes were golfing, skiing, bird hunting, fishing and hiking. Merrill was also an avid puzzler and loved to read anything in print be it a newspaper, magazine or a book.

Merrill was blessed with six children, seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by his mother, Helen Anderson Godfrey; his father, Vivian Merrill Godfrey; his brother, Richard (Barbara) Godfrey and his eldest son, Michael Godfrey.

Merrill is survived by his wife, Evelyn and his brother, Larry (Elvira); children, Rob (Karen), Lisa (Ken) Beed, Chris (Natalie), Cresta (Brad) Jackson and Janene (John) Sparks; grandchildren, Brittany (Eric) Newton, Brooke, Coleman, Nicholas, Chelsea, Layla and Robert (Allie) Morgan; great-grandchildren, Parker, Sarah, JJ, Chevelle and Hazel.

Please join us in honoring Merrill’s life on Sunday, December 19, 2021, at 2 p.m. at Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Boulevard, Ogden, UT, 84401. An inurnment graveside service will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers please provide a donation to the Ogden Rescue Mission, www.ogdenrescuemission.org.

The family would like to thank the staff at McKay-Dee Hospital for the compassionate care they provided.

Services will be live-streamed and available by scrolling to the bottom of Merrill’s obituary page at: www.lindquistmortuary.com, where condolences may also be shared.

Order Videos