Our kind and loving wife, mother, and grandmother passed away on December 5, 2018, after an extended struggle against cancer. She was born February 17, 1943, in Ogden, Utah, to Lee Olsen and Clara Child. At an early age, Carolyn displayed a love of and gift for music. Her siblings report that she was always singing. As her talents developed, she performed many solos in church meetings and talent shows and participated in many musicals and festivals. Carolyn eventually studied voice with Grace Wright, and it was through her that she met her future husband, Robert Stock. She transferred from Weber State to BYU when Robert returned from his mission, and they were married in 1965 in the Salt Lake Temple. At BYU she sang in the A Capella Choir from its inception under Ralph Woodward. After graduating with a degree in Elementary Education, she taught first and second grade for two years. Her daughters Susan, Tracy, and Tonya were born while Carolyn and Robert were living in Provo.
In 1970, the family moved to San Jose, California where Jonathan and David were born. While in San Jose, Carolyn sang with the Santa Clara Chorale, began teaching piano lessons and made several life-long friends. In 1980, the family moved to Sandy, Utah, where Carolyn sang with the Utah Symphony Chorus. In 1981, she joined the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, singing with them for 21 years under conductors Jerold Ottley, Craig Jessop, and Mack Wilberg. She enjoyed traveling and performing in Scandinavia, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, Israel, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Canada, and the United States. Her final performance with the Choir was singing for the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City. Soon after her retirement from the Choir, she began serving on the Choir staff, first in the music library and later as the assistant personnel manager. She worked in this volunteer capacity for 15 years. Many people felt her welcoming warmth and love in this capacity. Serving in the Tabernacle Choir was one of Carolyn's most satisfying life experiences.
Carolyn's musical influence also reached a great distance as a piano teacher. For over 40 years she taught lessons in her home, sometimes to two generations of students. She was a member of the Utah Music Teachers Association from 1985 to the present, serving as Sandy Chapter referral committee member, treasurer, and president. As a local leader of the National Federation of Music Clubs, she organized the ensemble and concerto festival for many years. She encouraged her students to participate in these festivals, through which they could earn recognition and awards. Carolyn welcomed and worked with students of all abilities and ages.
Carolyn was a lifelong, active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in various capacities. She had a strong and abiding testimony of her Savior, Jesus Christ. For many years she regularly attended Church Educational System (CES) classes taught by S. Michael Wilcox. She would often share insights from these classes in family home evenings.
While Choir and teaching experiences provided much fulfillment, Carolyn's greatest joy in life was her family. She was a devoted mother and grandmother. When Choir practices or piano lessons occupied her evenings or weekends, she always prepared meals in advance for her children. She sought to foster strong relationships among immediate and extended family by organizing special family meetings during summer reunions at the East Canyon and Westgate Resorts. In these meetings, Carolyn would share spiritual experiences, gospel and life lessons, and special gifts with her grandchildren. We will all miss her loving attention, nurturing, and steady supply of treats, especially cookies and gum. We will all remember her as a kind, patient, elegant, classy, talented, respectful, faithful woman, one who was often aware of others' needs, which she always put ahead of her own.
Carolyn is survived by her husband of 54 years, Robert, and children Susan (Stephen) Thomas, Tracy (Sterling) Petersen, Tonya (Cameron) DeVries, Jonathan (Jennifer Ottley), David (Jennifer Smith), 24 remarkable grandchildren, and siblings Maureen Ketchum, Dean Olsen, Robert Olsen.
Carolyn and her family express their gratitude to Huntsman Cancer Institute, Intermountain Medical Center, Hearts for Hospice, and the many wonderful friends and neighbors who have given their love and support. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, December 17, at the Stake Center on 2130 Gyrfalcon Drive in Sandy, Utah. Viewings will take place at the same location on Sunday, December 16, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. and Monday, December 17, from 9:00-10:30 a.m. Interment will be at Larkin Sunset Gardens.
