MEROLYN TENA (CARTER) SPAFFORD

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Born in Salt Lake City, Utah on August 30th, 1943 at 11:54 p.m.

Passed over on November 24th, 2020 at 7:16 a.m.

Our beloved Sister, Mother, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother, and Friend passed to the other side of the veil after seventy-seven years of countless experiences. She was fondly called Bugga, Bugga Tena, Momma, Grams, Nanny, Lady Bug, Mer, and many accidently called her Merlin (as in the Wizard).

The MATRIARCH of our family, the GLUE to many lives, the TEACHER of countless things, the EXAMPLE of tender touches and love, the CREATOR of numerous special memories, the ACCEPTOR of everyone, and the SOLACE to many hearts has passed to the other side of this realm.

She LOVED BIG, LIVED LOUD, and was the most AUTHENTIC human being ever! We’re all so blessed to have had her in our lives. She was a FIGHTER too! At age seventy-seven, she chose to “GO FOR IT” (she had a unique way of saying that) and fought hard to walk again by getting a full knee replacement about three weeks ago. She AMAZED all the Doctors and Staff with her hard work in recovery and range of motion! She dealt with the pain and looked forward to getting her other knee done in February. She wanted to live and improve, and she was well on her way! But suddenly she found herself in a fight with a dirty bastard, a dirty fighter named COVID-19.

Preceded in death: the love of her life, Lee Willis Spafford; her parents Harold Carter and notably Wilma Fern “Fat Rat” (Mott) Kimball and Ernie Kimball; Her sister, Jerolyn Rosevear; two of her four children, Tena Michelle Booth and Gerald Scott Farrimond; grandson Elijah Trent Spafford; and her great-granddaughter, Winston Sheri Wallingford.

Survived by her passing: a spunky crew including: her siblings, Harold Carter, Raymond Carter, Karen Cater, and Charles Cater; children, Tresha & Mark Maxon, Trent Lee & Teresa Spafford; her grandchildren, Nicholas & Chelsey Booth, Nicole Booth, Destiny & William Wallingford, Beau Maxon, Skyler Maxon, Spencer & Makayla Maxon, Autumn Lynn Spafford, Adisyn Lee Spafford, Moses Niumatalolo, Malia Niumatalolo; great-grandchildren, Lincoln, Bennett, & Andie Booth, Anthony, Atalie & Aceton Booth, and Weslyn Lee Maxon.

“"GO FOR IT"”

We can only imagine the JOY and complete bewilderment she may have felt when she was received on to the other side by Lee, Fat Rat, Tena, Scotty, Elijah, Winnie, and a host of others.

She had a deep love for JESUS. She regularly read her scriptures and loved Psalms and the book of Mathew. She loved to PRAY and we will always remember her “Nanny prayers” (Oh silent night). She LOVES GOD & would openly share her testimony with everyone she could. She raised her children to have faith in the afterlife as she had many personal experiences with it. She was open to different faiths and was raised going to First Baptist Church in SLC, and later in life she became a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Bugga, what an amazing legacy you leave behind! You taught us to reach out to people, even when it might be uncomfortable for us to do so. You taught us to say hello to total strangers people, to strangers, to individuals that others might shy away from. You showed us how to look at people when walking down the aisle at the grocery store. You taught us to complement others about something interesting about themselves. You showed us that it’s OK to ask someone about what happened with an injury or a disability. You showed us authenticity and taught us how to laugh, even when life is hard. Those who know you are better people. All because of you.

It’s really going to be hard to fill the void you leave behind, but the memories that we have of you fill us up and make us strong forever.

With a special thanks to the staff and caregivers at Covington Senior Living in Lehi, Utah. Mer loved the staff and made loving friends there, no only with other residents , but with many of the nurses, servers, and aids. You were remarkable to her. On behalf of the entire family, we thank you! What you do is so special!

VIEWING:

Friday December 4th starting at 1:00 p.m. and ending at 3:00 p.m. we will host a viewing in her honor if you would like to pay her your last respects.

FUNERAL SERVICE & CELEBRATION OF LIFE:

Friday December 4th, starting promptly at 3:30 p.m.

LOCATION:

To be held at Premier Funeral Services. Located at 67 east 8000 south Salt Lake City, Ut. 84047. 801-930-9822. The Funeral home requires all to wear a mask inside the building and to use social distancing when possible. Please share thoughts and memories with her family at www.premierfuneral.com.

VIRTUAL VIEWING:

If you would like to view the funeral service and celebration of life online, we will be hosting a FACE BOOK LIVE EVENT. This is by invitation only. Please contact Trent Spafford on FACE BOOK and request an invitation to the group.

The name of the group is “In Memory of Merolyn Bugga Tena Spafford”