Merrell Kaye Valentine

Merrell Kaye Valentine

Kaye, an avid obituary reader, was born December 4, 1935 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Merrell and Hilda Mason Valentine. He grew up in Salt Lake City, and joked about attending South, Granite, and East High Schools, but married a girl from West High. Kaye had many talents: he could build anything, including their family cabin in Midway where they spent much of their time, loved to work on old cars, knew every road, alley, and telephone box in the Salt Lake Valley, could spot a wrench in the road from a mile away, was a collector and had an incredibly dry sense of humor.

Kaye met Susan Jane Halton while building a swimming pool at her neighbor's home. They were married November 19, 1955 in Elko, Nevada. They have 3 daughters; Sydney Valentine Stuck (Keith), Susan Valentine, and Stephanie Valentine-Cook (Les). Kaye never complained about being the only man in the house, he raised his girls to be independent and taught them the importance of knowing how to change a tire, never having less than a half a tank of gas in your car, and that chairs have four legs for a reason.  Kaye worked for Mountain Bell for 38 years, retiring at a young age to become a full-time papa to Cole Cook, Andrew Stuck, and Adison Cook.

Kaye is survived by loving wife Sue Valentine, daughters and their spouses, and grandchildren; in-laws: Sheronne Valentine, Sheryl Halton, Linda Sevey, and Margaret Littlefield; many nieces and nephews and their children. Kaye was preceded in death by siblings: Barbara Valentine, Elaine Brown, and Dale Valentine; granddaughter Zoe Valentine-Cook. The family would like to thank the employees at the Kolff Dialysis Center for putting up with Kaye's antics, their wonderful neighbors who affectionately referred to him as the Mayor, and special friend Kris Peterson for their weekly Tuesday outings.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Monday, January 7, 2019 from 5:00 pm ~ 7:00 pm at Starks Funeral Parlor, 3651 South 900 East, Salt Lake City. Guests are encouraged to use the complimentary valet parking on the north side of the building.