Edna Merle Clemons

COOKEVILLE CHAPEL-Edna Merle (Brooks) Clemons returned to her heavenly home on April 17, 2025, at the age of 93 years 9 months.

Merle was born on July 17, 1931, in Farley (Huntsville), Alabama to Nancy Lou (Smith) and Ernest Odell Brooks, the third of the four children and the only girl born to them. Her mother died just over two years later, leaving four children under the age of four. Her father soon remarried, and she was subsequently joined by ten half-siblings. Though their father was a hard worker, the family had meager means, and Merle and her three brothers were mostly raised by aunts in their youngest years. She loved and appreciated these aunts greatly and remained in touch with them for the rest of their lives. She attended schools in Alabama and then Missouri but did not have the opportunity to go to school past tenth grade. She later worked to earn a GED.

Merle was working as a nurse’s aide in Memphis, Tennessee in 1949 when she met Keith Clemons at the branch of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Though they were both dating others as well, they gravitated to each other, and the branch president told them they should just get married. They took his advice and were married in Memphis April 21,1950. A few months later they drove to Utah with Keith’s parents and were sealed for eternity in the Logan Utah Temple on August 22, 1950. Keith was called up from the Naval Reserve to active duty because of the Korean conflict while they were out on this trip. After Keith’s time in the navy, he went to college and then joined the Air Force as a career officer. They lived in Tennessee, New York, Alabama, Texas, France, California, Florida, Labrador, Louisiana, and Germany during their military years. They made lifetime friendships everywhere they went. They retired to Tennessee in 1976 and were there until Keith passed away in 2006. Merle moved to South Jordan, Utah in 2007.

Over the first ten years of marriage Merle became a mother to their six children. Her life revolved around her family. She was an amazingly wonderful, hard-working, supportive and loving mother. After her youngest daughter became disabled in a terrible accident, Merle became her caregiver, best friend and teacher for the next 38 years. All of her children and grandchildren knew her kindness and unconditional love and admired her staunch determination to do good.

Merle was a lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In her youth she had little opportunity to gain experience with the Church, but became active after moving to Memphis, and she and Keith were a big part of the growth of the church in Tennessee in their early years there. Merle served in many branch, ward and stake church callings everywhere they lived, working in music, Relief Society, Primary, Mutual, and Single Adults. She was an ordinance worker in the Atlanta, Nashville, and Jordan River temples, and was one of the first assistant matrons when the Nashville Temple opened in 2000. She and Keith served missions in Singapore/India/Malaysia/Indonesia, and later in Nigeria. She was absolutely devoted to serving her Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, and Heavenly Father’s children at all times and in all places. Until the last week of her mortal life she would be up before dawn studying her scriptures and praying, and more often than not walking to the temple to serve as a patron. She had unfailing charity for others and an absolute belief in the power of everyone to become better than they were. She decided through her gospel studies what was right and worked to do exactly that.

Merle was determined to keep herself healthy and had a daily exercise routine that included up to four hours of walking. She was blessed with amazingly good health until the final two months of her life.

Merle was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Keith, her daughter Jo Ann, her parents, three brothers, Hyrum, Joseph and Edward, and four half-siblings, Jimmy, Linda, Betty, Elaine, and Dorothy. She is survived by five children, Richard (Kathleen) Clemons, Beverly Arnason, Bill (Mary) Clemons, Phillip (Leita) Clemons, and Steve (Bess) Clemons; also twenty-four grandchildren, Kimberly (Eric), David (Heather), Kevin, Kary (Geof), Bella, Jessica (Joe), Andrea (John), Cassie (Jason), Troy, Aaron, Ben (Sara), Ammon, Emily (Edward), Katie (Rob), Taylor (Sienna), Laura (Doug), Brian, Bradley, Joseph, Jared, Justin, Isaiah, Faith (Samuel), and Elijah. She has twenty-six great-grandchildren. She is also survived by five half-siblings, Ruthanne, Ruby, Delbert, David, and Michael.

The funeral will be held Saturday, April 26, 2025, 1:00 p.m. at the Cookeville building of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 981 S Walnut Avenue, Cookeville, Tennessee, preceded by a viewing in the same building at 12:00 p.m. Burial will be in the Cookeville City Cemetery.

We express great appreciation to Merle’s nurse, Philly, and aid, Rocky, of Inspiration Hospice. Though their service was much shorter than expected, they treated her with great kindness and respect.

Hooper, Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. (931)526-6111. Share memories and condolences at www.hhhfunerals.com.