Roger Gordon Urry

Roger Gordon Urry, age 89, passed away peacefully in his assisted living care center, Covington in Heber City, Utah on June 2nd, 2025. He was born August 28th, 1935 in Salt Lake City, Utah to John Urry and Cynthia Arnold Urry. He grew up a farm boy in Woods Cross, Utah.

In the spring of 1953, after graduating from High School at Davis High in Kaysville, Roger joined the National Guard at the age of 17 and served 2 years in the Utah Air National Guard, all in all serving just over 5 years with the Guard and had many adventures and experiences he has never regretted.

Roger worked in the Utah Oil Refinery for 12 years but eventually moved from Utah to California where he worked for Pete Harmon who was best known for having struck a deal with Colonel Harland Sanders to open the first KFC franchise in SLC, UT. Roger managed the Commissary for KFC in Daly City, CA for many years. During this time, he was married to Deanna Blackely for 15 years ending in divorce. He had 4 children with her.

In 1970 he met the love of his life, Merilyn Flora Luke who was widowed with 5 children at the time. Together they had 3 more children, rounding up a large “His, Hers and Ours” family to 12 children! Roger was a devoted spouse who cherished and adored Merilyn. They were happily married for 49 years up until Merilyn's death in August of 2019. For years they resided in Dublin, CA in a home Roger and his older boys built but eventually moved to Utah in 1978 where Roger was impressed that they should move to and specifically to Midway. It proved to be a good decision as they were very influential and well-loved in the community there for over 40 years. They were heavily involved in the community volunteering countless hours with the Swiss Days programs, Midway boosters where Roger was also president for 2 years, Swiss Christmas, 4th of July Sunrise Service and in many other capacities. In 2007 Roger and Merilyn were the “Honored Citizens” for Swiss Days. They were legendary for portraying Father and Mother Christmas in the Midway Town Hall during the Swiss Christmas festival for 2 decades and loved it!

Roger loved the outdoors and enjoyed camping, fishing, raising animals and gardening both vegetables and flower gardens. He loved writing poems and had many binders filled with them. He learned to be a skilled craftsman and builder and was quite the “handy man”. He was a good sport about getting out of his shy comfort zone…singing and performing in the many plays, musicals and chorus’s Merilyn directed over the years. He supported her in all of her ambitions.

Roger loved God and was a devout member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints all of his life. He served in many callings throughout his life but his favorite were his callings involving working with the youth and also being a door greeter, shaking hands with everyone, especially the children. He had a soft spot in his heart for them.

Roger was preceded in death by his stepson, Rustin Stanfield; daughter, Cheri Kay Urry; his brother, Lawrence Urry; his sister, Beverly Urry Wilson; as well as his parents, John and Cynthia Arnold Urry.

Roger is survived by his children and stepchildren: Kelly Stanfield, Denise Stanfield Cummings, Jennifer Stanfield Ruff, DeVon Stanfield, Nathan Urry, Jason Urry (Jenny), Kimball Urry (Melinda), Gordon Urry, Robbie Urry, Randy Urry; sister, Bette Urry Williams; 21 grandchildren; and 7 great-grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held on Friday, June 13th at Heber Valley Funeral Home, 288 North Main Street, Heber, UT 84032 at 1:00 PM. There will be a viewing from 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM prior to the service. Graveside service will be immediately after at the Midway City Cemetery.

Roger was dearly loved and will be greatly missed.