MARY MARIE MERRIAM URSENBACH

 

Mary Marie Ursenbach

May 4, 1931 — April 15, 2025

Mount Pleasant

With hearts full of both sorrow and gratitude, we announce the passing of our beloved Mary Marie Merriam Ursenbach on April 15, 2025, in the comfort of her home in Mt. Pleasant, Utah. A devoted wife, nurturing mother, cherished grandmother and great-grandmother, loving sister, and loyal friend—Mary’s legacy is one of compassion, strength, and a life joyfully and generously lived.

Born on May 4, 1931, in Manti, Utah, Mary was the daughter of Edgar and Vonda Merriam. She married the love of her life, Earl Jay Ursenbach, on August 15, 1953, in Orem, Utah. Together, they built not only a home, but a life of purpose, service, and community.

Mary is lovingly remembered by her children: Kathy (Alan) Rowe, Robyn (Bob) Norman, and Christian Ursenbach; her grandchildren: Nackole Norman, Tex Norman, Kortny (Edwyn) York, and Tyson Rowe; and great-grandchildren: Caden (Jake) Snow, Javon Norman, Jocile Norman, Keiston Norman, and Paxton Norman. She is also survived by her dear sisters Vonda Rae Poulsen, Diana Clark, and JoLynn Lund, along with her honorary sisters Suzanne Winters and Sandy Johnson.

She was preceded in death by her devoted husband; her parents; siblings Drew Merriam, Anna May Thomas, Connie Hansen, Louise Kump, Wayne Merriam and Burdell Merriam; and her beloved grandson, Wade Rowe.

Mary lived a life marked by dedication and tireless service. Side by side with her husband, she helped operate their family-owned funeral home and provided essential ambulance service for the North Sanpete area—offering comfort and care in the most difficult moments of others' lives.

Her boundless energy extended far beyond her professional roles. Mary was the heart and soul of every community she touched. A proud member of several senior groups in Mt. Pleasant, Moroni, and Fairview, she also joyfully participated in the Red Hat Society, the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, and the VFW Ladies Auxiliary. Her home was always open—especially for a game of cards, where laughter echoed and friendships deepened.

Mary had an abiding love for nature and adventure. She found joy in the mountains, in long walks, hikes, shopping trips, and travel. And in true Mary fashion, she never passed up a good plate of French fries—her simple, guilty pleasure that always brought a smile to her face.

Animals found a champion in her as well; Mary was known for rescuing and caring for both cats and dogs with the same tenderness she showed all living things.

Her spirit of service knew no bounds. She was one of the most beloved and impactful 4-H leaders in the community, shaping the lives of generations with her wisdom and encouragement. Whether offering rides to appointments, lending a helping hand around the house, or simply being present with a listening ear, Mary’s kindness was as constant as it was selfless.

Mary’s legacy is one of service, joy, and deep, enduring love. She leaves behind a tapestry of memories that will continue to inspire and comfort all who were blessed to know her.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday April 22, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at Rasmussen Mortuary (96 N 100 W) Mount Pleasant, UT. Viewing on Tuesday from 9:45-11:00 a.m. at Rasmussen Mortuary prior to funeral. Interment in the Mount Pleasant City Cemetery.

A special thanks to IHC Hospice, Dr. Eileen Jackson and her son Chris for his loving care, during Mary’s declining years. Contributions can be made to the Mt. Pleasant City Library in Mary's name.

To Watch Funeral Services Live, Click Here. The Live Zoom Link will Activate at 10:45 a.m. MST prior to services.

THE OLD OUTHOUSE Vonda Geneta Peterson Merriam ~ Saga of the Sanpitch ~ Senior Honorable Mention Short Story ~1998

  When I grew up, people had a little building in their backyards. They called it by several names, such as outhouse, privy, or simply the toilet. The bees and flies swarmed around it on hot summer days, and in the winter it was freezing cold. We didn't mind because it was such a necessity.

 The pages of the Sears and Roebuck and Montgomery Ward catalogs were used for toilet paper. These hard pages were a far cry from the soft tissue we use today, but somehow I miss the entertainment I got from looking at the catalogues. My girlfriends and I spent many hours enjoying the pictures of these books. Here our dreams and wishes came alive as we chose things we hoped someday to have. "Now look at this What a darling outfit!" "That's how the man will look that I'm going to marry." "This is a picture of me in my wedding dress." Such conversation went on and on. 

When it was my turn to wash the dishes, I would make an excuse to go to the outhouse. There I stayed for a long time, hoping that someone would wash the dishes, but that never happened. The dishes waited.  The only bad thing about the old outhouse was keeping it clean, and that was my job. This had to be done every Saturday. I scrubbed the wood with homemade soap and rinsed it with clean water. I filled the holes with ashes from our old kitchen stove to keep the insects away and dispel the smell. 

The big boys had fun on Halloween, pushing over outhouses even if someone happened to be inside them. During the depression years, work was hard to find and our government created jobs for the men. One job was building new toilets all over the U. S. These were much nicer than most of the old ones. The floors and holes were made of cement. There was just one seat, and it had a covering to keep insects away. We called these buildings Roosevelt Monuments, named after our President. 

After I was married, we had to use the old outhouse because we did not have a bathroom. I didn't go there to dream and make wishes, I went there for peace and quiet and to try and solve problems. I wondered what was best for my family, how to stretch money, how to keep a peaceful happy home life.

 With three generations of family living together, there were trials. Sometimes I would get depressed and feel that I was going to explode. Then I went to the outhouse and had a good cry, and soon I felt better. I dried my eyes and walked back into my home, and no one knew that Mom had cried.