Carol Blunt Allen

Carol Blunt Allen, our sweet mother, devoted grandmother, dear aunt, and caring friend, peacefully departed this life on Friday, December 3, 2021, to be reunited with her husband of 65 years, her oldest son, her loving parents, and her seven siblings. She was 93 years old, and died from natural causes, incident to age. Carol did not want to leave her children, but she was especially looking forward to reuniting with her husband, her parents, and her two brothers and sister. What a glorious and joyful reunion it will be!

Carol was born on January 8, 1928, to Henry Alvah Blunt Jr. and Alice Louise Hoggan. She was the second youngest in a family of eight children. Carol’s four oldest siblings did not live to adulthood, yet she was very close with her remaining brothers Ralph and Dale, and her sister Marian. Carol shared with us many delightful and spirited stories of her years growing up and spoke frequently of how much she missed her family.

Carol married her eternal companion, Gerald (Jerry) Gordon Allen, on January 12, 1951, in the Salt Lake Temple. Carol graduated from South High School in 1946, and Jerry was her high school sweetheart. Carol often talked of how she lovingly waited 2 ½ years for Jerry to return home from his mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to Uruguay.

Carol was the mother of four children. She worked as a bank teller until the day her first son, Danny, was placed in her arms. She left her job that very day to become a full-time mom, and never looked back. Carol had wanted to be a mother for many years, and her life forever revolved around her family, and taking care of her husband and children. Carol truly lived a life of selfless service to others and taught us all the true meaning of “do unto others.” Carol also taught her children to be grateful. She grew up during the Great Depression, and never let us forget how lucky we were. All four of her children were sealed to Carol and Jerry in the Salt Lake Temple.

Carol was a life-long and faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and served many years working in the Relief Society, and the Primary, of the Fortuna Ward (formerly the Holladay 7th Ward). Carol had a strong testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the hereafter, which she shared with her family and friends almost daily. Carol especially loved doing LDS temple work with Jerry and was able to visit the Jordan River Temple with ward friends, along with her caregiver, shortly before she passed. Carol’s strong faith and religious beliefs buoyed her through many of life’s challenges, particularly the deaths of her oldest son and her loving husband.

Carol was a perfect homemaker, and her passions were cooking and sewing. Carol truly made her house a home. Her homemade apple, cherry, and strawberry pies were legendary, and her “grammy” rolls were sublime. Carol taught family, friends, and many ward members how to make pie crust, and bread dough, (from scratch), and was a true expert at the art of old-fashioned homespun baking. She often said that she learned how to cook and bake from her own mother.

Carol made a pot roast every Sunday, along with a fresh batch of homemade rolls, and her family eagerly looked forward to dinner right after church. The house always smelled so wonderful when she cooked. Carol made delicious date bars when the Home Teachers would visit, and she made the best frosted cinnamon rolls, which she would always share with neighbors or friends, just because she thought they would enjoy them.

Carol, by her example, taught her children the meaning of benevolence, compassion, and how to “love thy neighbor.” Her children sometimes compared Carol to Aunt Bee on The Andy Griffith Show, which incidentally was her favorite television series. Carol was always helping someone in need, or cooking a meal for a neighbor, or friend in the ward. She was particularly close to Denise Anderson, Doreen Duerden, Barbara Fordham, Diane Potter, Joann Bjarnson, Beverley Tingey, and Patti Sargent.

Carol had a true sense of style. She never went out without donning a fancy pair of dangly earrings, and she humbly owned a vast assortment, which she loved purchasing on sale at department stores, or at Pick ’n Save. Getting her ears pierced was a big deal for Carol, but once she made the decision to do it, she never regretted it. Carol never spent a lot of money on herself, but you would never know it. She always sported bright colored lipstick, and a matching hair bow, which made her something of a fashion icon for her generation.

Carol thoroughly enjoyed shopping for fabric to make beautiful clothes for her family. Everything Carol sewed was one-of-a-kind, and she often made items without a pattern. She made business suits and wedding dresses for her daughters, shirts and robes for her sons, and beautiful dresses, pants, and Halloween costumes for her grandchildren. Carol also knitted dozens of baby booties and quilted blankets for each grandbaby. Carol was truly a gifted seamstress. She could put a new zipper in anything and alter any article of clothing for a perfect fit. When her children were out of school, Carol went to work as an alterations specialist at Red Hanger. She was very proud of the work she did there, and their business for alterations probably picked up during her tenure! Carol also sewed many of her own clothes.

Carol also loved going out to dinner or to the swap meet with her husband. These two, Carol and Jerry, always seemed to enjoy their time together.

Carol and Jerry’s children were close with all of their cousins on both sides of the family, and they enjoyed many memorable family vacations together. Carol especially loved to cook while camping and prepared many delicious meals outside on a camp stove while at Grand Teton National Park. Each summer, Carol cut apple slices, and made dozens of perfectly shaped sandwiches on her lap during the family’s annual road trip to Disneyland. Jerry didn’t like to stop the car for lunch, because he was so anxious to get there. Carol made sure that no one got hungry during the long drive.

Carol also loved cooking meals for her family and friends at the family cabin in Lambs Canyon. She hosted many faculty parties with Jerry at the cabin, and always made her famous homemade eclairs. Carol spent many hours sewing curtains and slip covers for the cabin so as to make it a true “home away from home.” Jerry used to drop Carol and the family dog off at the cabin on his way to work, and she would bake and sew all day until he picked her up, along with the dog, on his way home. Many times, Carol drove herself up the somewhat steep, and poorly maintained, 0.7-mile dirt road to the cabin. Carol was determined to get everything done.

Because Carol loved being in the kitchen, she did special things for each one of her children, which they have never forgotten. Cutting the corn off Tom’s corn on the cob long after his braces were removed was memorable. She also took the seeds out of watermelon for Jayne well into adulthood. She made miniature chicken pot pies for Danny, and she baked pint-sized apple turnovers for Nancy.

Carol loved dogs, and each one benefitted from her home-cooked meals. The dog would always get a little of whatever Carol fixed her family for dinner. Nan was especially spoiled by Carol.

When her children grew up, Carol and Jerry would often go camping in their pop-up van. Later, they traveled to a few select locales pulling their fifth wheel trailer. Two of their favorites were Yuma, Arizona, and Capital Reef National Park. Carol’s favorite part of these sojourns was the cooking. Carol and Jerry also traveled to Singapore and Europe.

Carol’s favorite color was yellow, which depicted her kindness and gentle spirit. She adored babies and loved each one of her grandchildren. When her children, or grandchildren, would get married, she would always give them the same advice: “Never go to bed angry with each other.” Not surprisingly, this is exactly what Carol said to her grandson Randall and his fiancé Darian Resendes when they announced their upcoming wedding just a few weeks ago. Carol’s children and grandchildren will miss her greatly.

Carol’s final years included “graduating” from skilled nursing and being able to return to her home for another 4 ½ years. Carol was especially fortunate to be able to return to church and be able to mingle with so many of her fellow ward members, especially her dear friend Patti Sargent. These two will always be remembered for their preferred seating arrangement at the back of the chapel, and their similar mode of conveyance. Carol’s caregivers, along with Michael Fordham, made sure Carol was able to attend these services every week.

During her final years, Carol was supported by her children and extended family. Carol was fortunate to have her two nieces come to the home to do her hair on a regular basis. These visits seemed to be the highlight of Carol’s week. And Carol's dear nephew was always on-call to make sure Carol's teeth were properly maintained and pain-free. Carol was able to make some new friends while she was at home, especially Mary Smith, and was able to connect with some of her old friends. Many of Carol’s relatives were also able to come and see her regularly.

Another highlight of Carol’s return home was taking an annual road trip to Boise to see her daughter Nancy, along with her children.

Carol’s final care was provided by a family in Kaysville, Utah. We will always be grateful to this family for allowing Carol to be surrounded by a mother and a father, a sister, two children, a grandmother, an adorable dog, and the warmth that comes from being part of a loving home environment. Parker, the bird, was there to make sure things never got too quiet. Carol adored the whole family, and especially enjoyed hearing the children sing.

Carol leaves behind her son, Matthew (Tom) Allen; her daughters, Jayne Kelleher Atkinson, and Nancy Warner; her son-in-law, Craig Atkinson; her former son-in-law, Todd Warner; six grandchildren: Erin, Jake, Cassie, Hannah, Randall, and Natalie; one great granddaughter, Magnolia; her brother-in-law, Bill Saxton; and many beloved nieces and nephews. Carol was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; her son, Daniel; her former son-in-law, Bob Kelleher; and all seven of her much-loved siblings.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, December 11, 2021, at the Fortuna Ward located at 4407 South Fortuna Way, Salt Lake City, Utah 84124. A viewing will be held from 10:00AM to 11:00AM prior to the services. Interment will be at Larkin Sunset Gardens Cemetery. Please share a condolence or memory at larkincares.com. To watch the services online, please click on the blue "Watch Services" box to the right of her picture.