The Mergenthaler Family

I have been avoiding this part of the updates. It's the part where I write about my Dad, his death, his memorial, and my birthday. I want to preserve the memories and my thoughts, but I don't know how to write about them yet. Maybe the easiest thing to do is start with a copy of my remarks from the memorial: I am Scott and Mary’s second oldest daughter, Bonni. Right now, I live across the country in Pennsylvania. It's hard to be so far away when something like this happens. I have had the privilege of spending the last week and a half here in Monticello with my mom, older sister, and younger brother. We miss our dad, but we have also felt peace and comfort. I have been impressed with your love and goodness as individuals and as a community. It’s evident in how you are caring for my mom and in the ways you remember my dad. As the middle child, I’m kind of the observer, and that’s been some of my role over the last week and a half as we have talked about the many adventures o...

  Scott Edward Gudgel, passed away on September 17, 2023, following an accident on his property in Monticello, UT. He was born on March 27, 1954, to Edward and Lucille Gudgel in Modesto, California. He spent a very happy childhood on a large ranch near Patterson, California, where his dad was a dairy foreman. It was here that Scott developed a deep love for animals. Scott had an insatiable appetite for learning how things worked. As a child, he spent many happy hours disassembling and reassembling household appliances with and without permission from his parents. His engineering spirit combined with stubborn patience and quite a bit of trial and error led him to create several beautiful, safe, and functional homes for his family. He was a problem-solver and could speak with a deep understanding of a variety of scientific topics. His service-oriented attitude and deep care for the well-being and safety of others led him to pursue a career in law enforcement. He served as a Deputy ...

Gavin turned eight just before the hustle and bustle of the wedding. Rather than trying to fit a baptism into wedding plans in Utah, we decided to have a quieter and more Gavin-focused baptism at home after returning. He planned the program himself, including who would lead the music (Sean), pray (Grandma and Grandpa Mergenthaler), speak (Candice Neilson and Andrew), and what we would have for refreshments (pumpkin cupcakes made with Logan's mom's wedding cake recipe). I was blown away by how many people came. We expected twenty people, but the Primary room was completely full. We also had many people join by Zoom, including Emily, Logan, Makayla, my parents, Daniel, Reyes and fam, Karitza and fam, Ricky from Argentina, and more. It was really cool. Gavin is a smart, sweet, thoughtful guy, and we are so happy he's in our family. He encourages us all to be better every day.

Following is a small selection of wedding photos from the professional photographer. Like I said, Emily is beautiful, right? And the reception was so much fun. Logan and Emily are quite a delightful pair and they attract good, fun people too. I forgot to say that the wind was blowing like crazy outside the temple, so our family pictures are, eh, rough. But Emily still looks great in all of them, so that's all that matters.

The Engar wedding was the highlight of our summer. They have been married three months at this writing, and I'm still so happy for their goodness. I love when they call on the phone to share their silly adventures. They are going to accomplish great things together. Logan fits right in with our family; from what I can tell, Emily is also a valued part of the Engar family. They bring light, joy, fun, and goodness to every association. Gavin insisted on sitting right between Logan and Emily when we met Logan for lunch on our first day in Utah. He loves his big sister and new big brother. Weddings are a lot of work. I knew I was out of my depth in planning and organizing details. I had excuses like living across the country and not being crafty and stuff like that. But honestly, I know I didn't do everything I wanted to do to make their day special. Emily, Logan, and Rick organized everything regarding the bride's responsibilities. The Engars also put on a lovely dinner, which...