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. Interment will be at Larkin Sunset Lawn.
Please click the Watch Service button above to view the recorded service.
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.
Guestbook/Condolences
We will always remember Carol's brilliance and warm kind personality. She inspired us and always brought laughter and love with her. We witnessed her struggle with cancer when our Margaret was being treated with breast cancer also. Initially they survived and thrived. May they shine with their heavenly glowing personalities in heaven. There are many happy reunions taking place there. Please accept our sympathy. We remain with faith and hope in our Savior Jesus Christ and his plan of happiness. We pray for your comfort and peace. Les, Chase, Rex and Heidi Tippetts
I express my condolences to Carol‘s family and friends. Carol was always kind to me personally. She was always trying to lift people‘s spirits and help us to see the good in ourselves. We have lost a great and noble woman.
My condolences go out to Carol's family and friends. She was indeed a noble spirit. It has been many years since I have seen her, but my memory of her is as fresh today as it was when we were roommates at the Grand Canyon during the summer of 1967. We slept in bunk beds, I on the top and she on the bottom. She frequently stuck her feet up into my bed to see if I was awake. We had wonderful adventures that summer with 3 other roommates. I knew then that her testimony was strong, though I was not yet a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints. She was a beautiful daughter of God.
My family and I met Carol while working together as colleagues for the Church on a joint assignment at BYU Hawaii and the PCC. That chance meeting turned into a friendship of many years with Carol and Stan whom we lovingly regard as “family by affection” (a phrase coined by Carol that we will always remember. To my children, Carol quickly became lovingly known as “aunt Carol,” a role, which she had no obligation to fulfill, but did so dedication and love. We will fondly remember many get togethers during the holidays, ukulele lessons at the Fongs, dinners just to catch up on her latest travels and even another visit to Hawaii to see our oldest son graduate from BYU Hawaii. To every occasion, Carol brought humor and wit as well as thoughtfulness and care. Her fridge magnet collection, as well as windup toy collection is nothing short of epic… For those who haven’t seen it, you are missing out. We will sadly be in Hawaii during the viewing and funeral but will be watching online. We love and miss you, dear aunt Carol… Aloha Oe! Ben, Niki, Parker, Tanner, Jack and Lucy
Our most sincere condolences to the wonderful Clark family. Carol was a dear friend and mentor. To apply two of her common sayings back to this dear woman, she is “a grand soul” who lived her life “wise as a serpent and harmless as a dove.”
Carol had such a wonderful impact on my life, both as a mentor and friend. At work she guided me and helped me improve. Her counsel was always spot on and honest. As a friend she was with me when I built my lightsaber at Savi’s Workshop. That will always be a precious memory, and Carol was with me. Thank you Carol for making the lives of those around you better. Until me meet again.
Carol is Home! She made it to the end as a shining example of an ever faithful disciple of Christ. ! I am so grateful to have known her, and grateful that we reconnected before her final illness so I could express my love to her. What an amazing, full, excellent life of love, service, and intelligence - a true saint! She will always be in my heart. I look forward to being with her again.
I am so sad to hear of Carol's passing. Carol was a sweet friend. Carol taught me the importance of education and learning. I had some great adventures with Carol and I will always be grateful for her guidance in my life. Blessings on her family during this difficult time.
I was just thinking about one of my high school English teachers and how wonderful of an influence she had on my life, so I decided to google her. I came across her obituary, and I don't know if anyone will see this, but I do want her family to know she was a wonderful teacher who helped teach me to think critically and consider humanity more deeply. I'm so grateful she was my teacher!