Merrill Charles Faux Jr.

Merrill Charles Faux, Jr, passed away peacefully July 21, 2026, at the age of 97. He was born July 6, 1929, in Salt Lake City, the first of four children of Merrill Charles and Edna Michelsen Faux.  Charles grew up in Salt Lake City, where he graduated from East High School in 1946 and the University of Utah in 1952 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting. He earned a Masters Degree in Business Administration at Harvard University in 1954. Later education included post-graduate studies at Carnegie-Mellon University.

Charles married Donna Marie West on June 10, 1952 in the Idaho Falls Temple. Together they welcomed and raised five children: Cheri, Susan, John, Peter, and Laurie. 

Charles’ professional activities took him and the Faux family to Los Angeles, California; Provo,Utah; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and Corvallis, Oregon. He loved to teach and held positions instructing at Brigham Young University and Oregon State University. Later he returned to the Salt Lake Valley, where he worked for Management Systems Corporation and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, in information management, welfare services, and auditing.

Charles had great faith in God and a strong testimony of the divinity of Jesus Christ. He was active in service in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in a variety of callings and responsibilities. Charles served a mission in the Hawaiian Islands in 1948-50. He always had great respect and love for Hawaiian people and culture.

Later in life, Charles and Donna served a mission in East Africa (2002-2004), where they taught career skills. Charles and Donna also served together at LDS Business College as tutors, and at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City as hosts. Charles also served as an ordinance worker at the Jordan River Temple.

Charles was always interested in business and politics. He served for 2.5 years as the chairman of the South Cottonwood Community Council. He enjoyed mentoring business owners and entrepreneurs.

Charles loved to garden, as shown by the beautiful home in Murray where he and Donna lived for 48 years. Charles and Donna loved to travel to visit their children and grandchildren in many places in the US. One favorite destination was the West family cabin at Macks Inn, Idaho,which Charles and Donna visited almost every summer. Charles loved to hike and walk. Even at an advanced age he would go walking with his walking sticks.

Charles was preceded in death by his wife of 71 years, Donna, his daughter Laurie Faux Decker, granddaughter Carrie Michelle Decker, and great-granddaughter Verity Decker. His sister Yvonne Faux Wiest and brother Winston Faux passed away in 2026.

Charles is survived by his daughter Cheri (David) Stafford, daughter Susan (Steve) Talbot, son John Faux, son Peter Faux, 18 grandchildren, 40 great grandchildren, and 3 great-greatgrandchildren. Charles is also survived by his sister, Annette (Alan) Faux Anderson.

Charles’ family would like to thank the staff of Spring Gardens Draper and Inspiration Hospice for the loving care they provided in Charles’ last year of life

.Funeral services for Charles will be held Friday, July 31, at 11:00 am, at the meetinghouse at 6350 S. Rodeo Lane, Murray, UT, with a viewing before the services at 9:45. Interment will beat the Island Park City Cemetery in Island Park, Idaho.