Meeks Morrell

St. George/Bicknell, Utah – Our beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, great-great-grandfather and friend, Chapman Meeks Morrell, age 91, passed away November 15, 2020 in St. George, Utah. He was born December 3, 1928 in Salina, a son of William Chapman and Dora Meeks Morrell. He grew up in Bicknell, and graduated from Wayne High School, Class of 1947. He attended Snow College for one year. Meeks married the love of his life, LaWana Jane Turner from Lyman, June 3, 1948 in the Manti LDS Temple. She passed away August 11, 2013. Meeks was born of hearty pioneer stock, who were some of the first settlers in Wayne County in the 1870’s and 1880’s. The Morrells, Meeks, Duncans and Gardners established homesteads in Fremont, Loa and Bicknell. Meeks worked with his father and mother on their family ranch. He and LaWana then continued a successful ranching business in Bicknell where they raised their family. His greatest enjoyment was planting crops and seeing the fruition of his labors and riding his favorite horse ‘out west’ to gather cattle. Meeks was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving as President of the MIA, where he loved working with the youth of the ward, Sunday School President, Bishop of the Thurber Ward, Bishop’s Counselor, Scout Leader and Silver Beaver Recipient, served on the Loa Utah Stake High Council, and he and his wife, LaWana served as workers in the Manti Temple. He served as a Wayne County Commissioner for 14 years and served as Chairman of the Six County Association of Government, served on the Dark Valley Grazers Board of Directors and was a member of the Fremont River Irrigation Association. Meeks enjoyed hunting, ranching, reading, basketball and the Utah Jazz. Go Jazz!!! He played on a Wayne County basketball team in 1951 of MM Basketball where they competed in Salt Lake City with teams from all over the state of Utah, which had a lasting impression on him. Meeks was very supportive of all the local community events, including sports, school plays and supporting his children and grandchildren in all their activites. After Meeks sold his farm, he and LaWana moved to St. George where they have resided ever since. Meeks could recall with great detail historical events in his 90 years of life. He is a great example of devoting his life to service to his community. He was very patriotic and often could be found with an “I Voted” sticker on his cowboy hat. He has been a stalwart leader to his family, his community and to the church. The family would like to extend a special thank you to all the care takers, especially Phoebe, the nurses and doctors through the years that have so compassionately taken care of our dear Dad. He is survived by his children: Rebecca and Richard Pace of Teasdale; Janie Mae and Val Robinson, Ramona and Jim McKim, James and Carrie Morrell, and Marilyn Morrell, all of St. George; 17 grandchildren; 64 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-granddaughter; sister-in-law: Claudia King of Provo and BetteLou Turner of Irvine, California. He is preceded in death by his parents; his wife; and his siblings: Elwood and Ora Morrell, Reuben and Phyllis Morrell, Dora Dean and Rex Mathis and Rebecca Lyle Morrell; a grandson, LaRon Bagley; and his in-laws: Hazel and Collier Turner, Dawn and Claud Mangum, Mark and Rula Turner, Venetta Turner, Willis Turner, Luana and Leonard Christensen, Scott Turner, Mabel and Klar Jorgensen, and Don Emery King. Because of COVID-19 restrictions and mandates, a private family funeral will be held at the Bicknell Community Center in Bicknell and burial will be in the Bicknell Cemetery under the care of the Springer Turner Funeral Home of Richfield and Salina, Utah