Carol Bird Staffanson

Carol Bird Parkinson Staffanson, loving wife, mother, grandmother and sister peacefully passed from this life on December 22, 2020 after a valiant battle with Parkinson’s Disease. Carol was born October 5, 1935 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Preston Woolley Parkinson and Ruth Bird Parkinson.

Carol grew up in Salt Lake City and attended East High School where she was a member of the pep club and Acapella. She later attended Brigham Young University and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Education. She taught short hand and typing at Highland High school for five years. Later she got a job at the Brigham Young University Career Placement office where she met Bill when he came in looking for help finding a job. They later married in the Salt Lake Temple on October 10, 1963.

Carol and Bill then moved to the California Bay Area, where they later raised four daughters in Hayward. Carol served in many callings in the Hayward Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including Primary President, Relief Society President, Stake Relief Society President and Stake Young Women’s President. She sang in the choir and she frequently accompanied singing groups and soloists in church meetings. She also enjoyed working on family history. She was an expert on names, dates and places and could always be counted on to remember important details. She was a great seamstress and made many clothes for her daughters.

Carol worked as a registrar at Hayward High School once her children were older. She enjoyed traveling with her husband and other family members to various places around the globe. She was fortunate to travel to many family history sites in Europe.

Carol and Bill retired in 1995 and moved to Sandy, Utah in 1997. Despite being diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in the 1990s, Carol continued to stay active in many activities. She was a great organizer of family reunions and other family celebrations.
Carol faithfully served in the LDS Union 5th ward in Sandy. She served as a family history consultant and she also served as a visiting teacher even when Parkinson’s Disease made it very difficult. We are grateful for her dear neighbors and friends and their love and service.
In the fall of 2018 Carol and Bill moved to Cedarwood of Sandy. We are grateful for the many angels that cared for her there.

Carol is survived by her husband Billie Vern Staffanson; and her four daughters and their spouses: Valerie and Mike Jamison Riverton Utah; Christine and Shawn Varney San Antonio Texas; Sharon and Brian Ashdown Albany, Oregon and Teresa and Brian Zaitz Layton, Utah. She has 12 grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister Mary Millet of Carlsbad California.

A viewing will be held on Friday, January 8th from 6:00- 8:00 pm at the Larkin Sunset Gardens. 1950 Dimple Dell Road (10600 S.), Sandy. Funeral services for family and close friends will be held on Saturday, January 9th at 11:00 am at the Larkin Sunset Gardens Chapel. To view previous held services please visit... https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/jAYlyhHQ2IWroldom3QqE4LiddFjlcWulFDSvLqLNK_j0oDyA_Q2ZdG_4vgwAmdn.d8ExLOD3hAdANLA5?startTime=1610214404000