My photo on this page means that ALS (Lou Gehrig\s disease) has finally taken my life, at home in Salt Lake City on March 7th. ALS slowly took away my ability to speak, sing, eat, swallow, use my hands well, walk without aid and finally to breathe. Outwardly I have tried to handle Louie G. with humor and grace; inwardly it did not rob my life, it just taught me a new song to sing. Special thanks to Intermountain Hospice and Dr. Greg Call.
I was born November 19,1942 to the late Ruth Buchanan and Wesley R. Budd. I attended East High and had many great friends there. After graduating from BYU in 1965, I taught two years at Churchill Jr. High and one year at John A. Logan Jr. College in Herrin, Illinois. I was married to Dale B. Carpenter on July 2,1965. Divorced in June 1985. I am survived by my talented and splendid sisters, Suzanne Rankin, Sedalia Colorado; Linda Budd (Rick), Spring City Utah; one nephew, Bridger Call (Elisha), Jackson Wyoming; one niece, Marquet Call, (Ivan Estrada and son Sebastian), Salt Lake City; one aunt and several cousins, and my best legacy: four fabulous children and four fantastic grandchildren: Camron Carpenter, Salt Lake City (son); Kajsa Marchetti (Michael and son Roman and daughter Mia), Tustin California; Megan Perkins, (Paul and son Bryce and daughter Brynn), Tustin California; and Brynne Carpenter, Salt Lake City. I admire and treasure them all in their own way. They are a credit to themselves and make this world a better place. I am also survived by many dear friends, whom I have loved and been loved by. We have shared so much. They are family too. Having worked in several different places and capacities, both paid and volunteered, I count many of my associates as friends, especially those I worked with at the LDS Girls\ Brighton Camp.
Earthly things I will miss: sunrises, summer mornings, trees, hiking and camping - particularly in the mountains and deserts of Utah, the arts, family gatherings, animals and all other things nature. I particularly loved the laughter I shared with my grandchildren while watching the beauty of their unfolding. It has been said the opposite of poverty is not wealth, but justice. So vote for a few good Democrats and vote IN a legislature that recognizes that the environment, not the economy is what is in jeopardy.
We can\t have a healthy economy without a healthy environment.
In lieu of flowers, consider a contribution to The Utah Clean Air Alliance, The Nature Conservancy of Utah, The Utah Humane Society and/or PBS.
Some of my ashes will be buried with a pine tree at a memorial celebration that will take place on a summer morning at Brighton Girls Camp in June.
I laughed, and loved, and lived, and left.
