Merrilee Fisher Wills Bryner

Merrilee June Fisher Wills Bryner lived her faith, loved her family, and collected treasured friends throughout her life. She returned to her Father in Heaven on May 3, 2026, at the age of 83.

Throughout her life, Merrilee’s relationship with her Savior, Jesus Christ never wavered, and her desire to know Him better led her to convert to Messianic Judaism in her later years. She believed the Bible contained God’s Word and she sought to apply its truths to her life.

Merrilee was a charitable and generous person, and her genuine interest in knowing others made it easy for her to strike up conversations with people from all walks of life wherever she went. She took care to earn about people, and she looked for ways she could help those in need. She was an avid reader and collector of books, and she especially enjoyed learning about and discussing world history, biographies, religion, and politics. She also loved browsing thrift stores, grabbing lunch with one of her many friends, and having phone conversations that would often go late into the evening.

Relationships meant a great deal to her, and she stayed connected to old friends, siblings, cousins, children, grand-children and distant relatives spread across the country. Throughout the years, her home often bustled with activity from family gatherings and hosting of new and old friends.

Merrilee was born on Jan. 31, 1943 in Los Angeles, CA to Eldon Lee Fisher and Margaret Mary Hubert Fisher, the first of their six children. The family soon moved to Duluth, MN, and she always cherished her early years there, playing in the woods and hunting agates on the shores of Lake Superior.

She married James Edward Wills in August 1960 in Highland, IN, and their daughter, Bonnie, was born a year later. Shortly after, they moved to Tempe, AZ, where they welcomed Matthew, Andrea (Trent), Jenness (Randle) and Jason (Melanie). Merrilee sewed dresses and clothing for herself and her children, and she developed a love of thrift stores and yard sales to meet her family’s needs. In December 1972, the family relocated to Provo, UT, and in 1974, she and Jim divorced.

On July 18, 1975, she married Boyd D. Bryner, welcoming his children, Becky (Jed), Earl (Yolanda) and Boyd David (Elisa) into her large family. They all settled into the home Boyd built in Brigham City, UT. Merrilee and Boyd’s child, Leah (Matt), was born two years later.

Merrilee and Boyd had a loving partnership for 38 years, until his death in 2013. Merrilee was also preceded in death by her parents and her beloved son, Matthew. She is survived by her eight children and her siblings—Barry, Danny, Kay Susan, Jay Scott and Barbara—along with 22 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren.

Friends may call Wednesday, May 13 from 6 to 8 p.m.at Aldersgate Church, 235 E. 850 S. in Brigham City. A memorial service will be held Thursday, May 14 at 5:30 p.m. at Aldersgate Church in Brigham City. Services will be live streamed at www.gilliesmortuary.com at Merrlee’s obituary. Interment will be in Brigham City Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you please honor Merrilee’s life by buying a meal for someone in need, or taking time to befriend someone who needs friendship.