Carol Lois Clark passed away on October 19, 2024 after a second battle with breast cancer. Cancer may have won the battle, but Carol won the war with her remarkable, accomplished, courageous, and good life.
Carol was born on May 23, 1948, in Salt Lake City, Utah, the first child of her loving and wonderful parents Norman W. Clark and Lois Colt Clark.
When Carol was a toddler, the Clark family moved from Utah to Palo Alto, California, where her father pursued his master's and doctorate degrees at Stanford University. While in Palo Alto, the family welcomed a new baby, Carol's beloved sister Alice.
Upon Norman's graduation from Stanford, the family moved back to Salt Lake City. Carol graduated from East High School. Along the way, she became sister to three loved brothers, Warren, Stewart, and Stanford.
Education was of the utmost importance in the Clark household and Carol took her education seriously. She graduated cum laude with a B.A. in English from the University of Utah. She earned M.Ed. and Ph.D. degrees also from the University of Utah along with a Phi Kappa Phi membership.
Carol's passion for education was at the foundation of her varied and interesting career. Although Carol said her first job was scooping mashed potatoes at a cafeteria, her real first job was teaching English, history, and journalism, first at Jordan High School and then at Alta High School. She transitioned from classroom teaching to working as Consumer Education Specialist for the Utah Attorney General's office where she traversed the state educating citizens on safe consumer practices. She was then appointed as the senior education aide under Utah Governor Norm Bangerter. She served on a variety of corporate, government, and community boards and committees, including as a post-secondary consulting board member for the U.S. Department of Education, a Days of '47 board member, and Red Cross volunteer. After working in various positions in state government, she spent the last portion of her career developing worldwide training curriculum for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Carol was a disciple of Jesus Christ and a faithful and devoted member of His Church. She served in many leadership and teaching positions in the Church, including as a stake Young Women president. She served on the Relief Society General Board under Relief Society general presidents Belle S. Spafford, Barbara B. Smith, and Elaine L. Jack, whom she also served as administrative assistant.
An accomplished writer, Carol authored six books, edited two others, and wrote various articles for multiple periodicals and publications. She had a regular column in the Deseret News for several years writing on consumer issues. She won awards for her writing and work, including a team Clio Award for Best Public Service Announcement, Best Book and Best Consumer Publication awards from the National Association of Consumer Agency Administrators, and a Citation of Accomplishment in Education from the National Council of Women. She also was a talented speech writer.
Carol was blessed with a keen mind which she loved to use. And use it she did. Carol was always thinking, and especially thinking of how she could help and serve others. Carol had a tremendous ability to synthesize information quickly and make informed and wise decisions. She was an avid reader and a lover of classical music, art, and literature. She was always up to date on current events. She was also passionate about rugby, particularly her favorite team, the New Zealand All Blacks.
A deep love of travel and adventure played a big role in Carol's good life. She visited all 50 states. She visited all seven continents, including helping her darling mother do the same. Carol traveled to over 80 countries in her lifetime. She also attended over 60 temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints worldwide. She enjoyed many great adventures with dear friends and family and often with her little brother and travel buddy Stan. Carol always had a trip planned up until the very end.
Ultimately, we know Carol as our devoted daughter, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend. Carol lived an exacting and extraordinary life full of love, charity, service, adventure, accomplishment, and honor.
Dear Carol, thank you for blessing our lives with your intelligence, light, and goodness. We love you dearly and will miss you terribly until we meet again.
Carol was preceded in death by her parents Norman and Lois Clark, her sister Alice Clark Cannon, and brother Stewart Clark. She is survived by her brothers Warren Clark (Marilyn) and Stan Clark, her brother-in-law Wayne Cannon (Gwen), sister-in-law Liz Nibley Clark, and 16 nieces and nephews.
A viewing will be held on Friday, October 25 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Larkin Sunset Lawn Mortuary, 2350 E. 1300 S., Salt Lake City. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 26 from 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. at the Little Cottonwood 1st Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 6350 S. Rodeo Lane, Murray, with a viewing held from 10:00 a.m.-10:45 a.m. at the same location that morning. Internment will be at Larkin Sunset Lawn.
For those unable to attend the service in person, the family invites you to join via Zoom, at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81740669768
In lieu of flowers, Carol has requested that any donations should be made to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Humanitarian Fund.
When Carol was a toddler, the Clark family moved from Utah to Palo Alto, California, where her father pursued his master's and doctorate degrees at Stanford University. While in Palo Alto, the family welcomed a new baby, Carol's beloved sister Alice.
Upon Norman's graduation from Stanford, the family moved back to Salt Lake City. Carol graduated from East High School. Along the way, she became sister to three loved brothers, Warren, Stewart, and Stanford.
Education was of the utmost importance in the Clark household and Carol took her education seriously. She graduated cum laude with a B.A. in English from the University of Utah. She earned M.Ed. and Ph.D. degrees also from the University of Utah along with a Phi Kappa Phi membership.
Carol's passion for education was at the foundation of her varied and interesting career. Although Carol said her first job was scooping mashed potatoes at a cafeteria, her real first job was teaching English, history, and journalism, first at Jordan High School and then at Alta High School. She transitioned from classroom teaching to working as Consumer Education Specialist for the Utah Attorney General's office where she traversed the state educating citizens on safe consumer practices. She was then appointed as the senior education aide under Utah Governor Norm Bangerter. She served on a variety of corporate, government, and community boards and committees, including as a post-secondary consulting board member for the U.S. Department of Education, a Days of '47 board member, and Red Cross volunteer. After working in various positions in state government, she spent the last portion of her career developing worldwide training curriculum for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Carol was a disciple of Jesus Christ and a faithful and devoted member of His Church. She served in many leadership and teaching positions in the Church, including as a stake Young Women president. She served on the Relief Society General Board under Relief Society general presidents Belle S. Spafford, Barbara B. Smith, and Elaine L. Jack, whom she also served as administrative assistant.
An accomplished writer, Carol authored six books, edited two others, and wrote various articles for multiple periodicals and publications. She had a regular column in the Deseret News for several years writing on consumer issues. She won awards for her writing and work, including a team Clio Award for Best Public Service Announcement, Best Book and Best Consumer Publication awards from the National Association of Consumer Agency Administrators, and a Citation of Accomplishment in Education from the National Council of Women. She also was a talented speech writer.
Carol was blessed with a keen mind which she loved to use. And use it she did. Carol was always thinking, and especially thinking of how she could help and serve others. Carol had a tremendous ability to synthesize information quickly and make informed and wise decisions. She was an avid reader and a lover of classical music, art, and literature. She was always up to date on current events. She was also passionate about rugby, particularly her favorite team, the New Zealand All Blacks.
A deep love of travel and adventure played a big role in Carol's good life. She visited all 50 states. She visited all seven continents, including helping her darling mother do the same. Carol traveled to over 80 countries in her lifetime. She also attended over 60 temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints worldwide. She enjoyed many great adventures with dear friends and family and often with her little brother and travel buddy Stan. Carol always had a trip planned up until the very end.
Ultimately, we know Carol as our devoted daughter, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend. Carol lived an exacting and extraordinary life full of love, charity, service, adventure, accomplishment, and honor.
Dear Carol, thank you for blessing our lives with your intelligence, light, and goodness. We love you dearly and will miss you terribly until we meet again.
Carol was preceded in death by her parents Norman and Lois Clark, her sister Alice Clark Cannon, and brother Stewart Clark. She is survived by her brothers Warren Clark (Marilyn) and Stan Clark, her brother-in-law Wayne Cannon (Gwen), sister-in-law Liz Nibley Clark, and 16 nieces and nephews.
A viewing will be held on Friday, October 25 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Larkin Sunset Lawn Mortuary, 2350 E. 1300 S., Salt Lake City. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 26 from 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. at the Little Cottonwood 1st Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 6350 S. Rodeo Lane, Murray, with a viewing held from 10:00 a.m.-10:45 a.m. at the same location that morning. Internment will be at Larkin Sunset Lawn.
For those unable to attend the service in person, the family invites you to join via Zoom, at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81740669768
In lieu of flowers, Carol has requested that any donations should be made to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Humanitarian Fund.
Kathy Schoenhals (Feigal)
All of the accomplishments listed in this obituary are stunningly accurate. Carol was super-intelligent and capable in so many areas, but the Carol I knew as a roommate at Grand Canyon the summer of 1967 was a joyous, fun-loving teenager. We were wonky and silly together. I just hope she experienced some of this frivolity throughout her life. I last saw her a few years ago after her hip replacement surgery and while in pain, she managed to joke around with me about our "Grand" old days.
R.I.P., dear friend!
Jesse Fox
Ginny and I loved Carol and the entire Clark family. Carol was an amazing person and did amazing things. We will miss her.
Jesse Fox
Shauna Manning (Wadley)
Carol was always so fun to be around. She had a great sense of humor and a bunch of us spent many happy times over at her house in the old Douglas Ward. A life well lived.Kathryn Hanson (Shirts)
Carol had a way of brightening everyone's life, and she certainly brightened mine. It was always such a pleasure be greeted with that big smile every time we crossed paths. I loved hearing the stories at her funeral yesterday-- from all the humor about her disdain of domestic animals ("Creatures of Darkness") to her resilience, wisdom and warmth. What a woman!
Kathryn Hanson Shirts