Karla Jean Faber Enniss Alvey

Karla Jean Faber Enniss Alvey, our loving, beautiful, beloved angel mother, slipped away peacefully, April 20, 2025, after being surrounded with love and the sweet, tender care of all of her children, their spouses and significant others, and grandchildren. She waited to leave us until every single person was able to say goodbye in their own special way.

Karla was born on July 27, 1946, to Karl and Rose Krznovich Faber, into a family of all brothers. She learned to be a lovely little lady at a young age and her Dad would proudly take her on his routes to see his customers, and tenderly boast, that he brought his cute little helper with him.

Growing up in Granger, they had acreage in tomatoes and young Karla was surrounded by animals and helped take care of her uncle’s pigs and cattle. During the summer when tomatoes were in, Karla and her brothers would ride the pigs to the tomato patch, weaving between the rows, trying to hang on. They wouldn’t last very long, and BAM! -- On the ground they would go! They had a series of St. Bernard dogs, a goat, a horse named Socs that was a stud colt, given to Karla for her birthday, a pet skunk, a pet magpie, and a monkey that screeched, climbed the drapes, and threw his poop. They also had pet banty roosters, and chickens that her mother would catch with a crooked hook for dinner.

The family enjoyed life with good food, holiday celebrations, lots of music, laughter, late night parties, and a dad who played the organ at all hours. As the kids got older, they learned to work hard and have fun with that, too! The family business became a garbage truck business and they took great pride in having gleaming trucks decked out with chrome wheels and accessories and kept them spotless and immaculate, always shining and gleaming. They made games out of how fast they could get through trailer parks and neighborhoods. She had a blast with her brothers Mike and Buck especially, and later Danny. There was a stand in the back for Mike and he would fly around the truck, swinging just like a monkey, being crazy, grabbing garbage cans and swinging around to dump it into the back hopper. There was constant laughter and fun until the work was done. Her brothers remained her best friends throughout her life.

In high school, Karla participated in pep club and concert choir and did well in school. She loved beautiful things and saved up her money for special splurges like a knit fitted suit by Gibi, from LaRee’s Lady’s Specialty Shop in Sugar House, or Italian leather shoes. She always dressed beautifully, and always had her hair done, and later her nails, remaining stylish throughout her life.

Karla married Merrill Enniss when she was 20 years old, and they had 6 children together, one daughter and four living sons she adored. As a young mother, Karla still worked for her father, keeping the books while Merrill helped keep the garbage truck fleet in working order. When her parents were short-handed, she still drove trucks, bringing her babies with her to work, starting at 5 a.m. each morning. It was tough. When she needed to, little 5’3” Karla would take her turn, dumping the garbage into the back hopper, shimmying the heaviest cans forward, using her knee to help get the heavy cans up and over the back hopper. She has always been a woman of great strength and perseverance and did whatever was needed. She put her husband through school, kept herself lovely, raised her children with love, hard work, and humor, and also assumed the caregiver role as both her parents and her younger brother Danny all went through lingering illnesses and passed away. Karla was so selfless and constant in her care of all three of them, making sure they had love and care and being a beautiful example to her children of how to jump in to help and serve others, while also having fun and a great time. Karla was a prankster and a jokester, teasing and having fun with her children and later grandchildren. She was known for keeping her home clean, organized, and decorated nicely.

Karla taught 4-H Club and did weekly arena classes with a neighbor, which her daughter Kelli was able to be part of. Their special thing was sharing a love of horses. Karla also served in the Young Women’s organization and was active in ward sports and that’s where all the ladies in the ward found out that sweet Karla uses swear words!

After many years, Merrill and Karla divorced. She went to work for Utah Trucking Association as the office manager. She put on their annual conventions, arranged talent, and had so much fun with her office mates. They had so many laughs and fun times and enjoyed working together for 25 years until she retired.

Karla later married widower Charles “Chuck” Alvey in 1994. Their love was as “big as the sky” as they often said to one another. He adored her and she loved him and his big family too, just as her own. They went up to the Uintah Mountains every year to enjoy the beauty and then went down to Escalante, where Chuck grew up.

Karla and Chuck hosted amazing family Christmas parties in their home each year and held a family tradition of Karla hiding the Christmas pickle in the tree (a European tradition practiced in Croatia), and the grandkids would have to find it. She had darling costumes that the kids would don for a live nativity that were just precious. She loved and accepted all her children and not only had us read from Luke chapter two, but she would also buy non-alcoholic Martinelli’s so everyone could participate in the “family toast” with those who liked to toast to love, family and special times. Everyone was welcome, we were all family who had each other’s backs.

Every summer, on the 4 th of July, Chuck and Karla hosted their biggest tradition, a patriotic breakfast up Millcreek Canyon. Son Troy brought up a big camping griddle to fry up a huge breakfast, and Karla put out everything else you could ever want for breakfast and more! Son Tyson would take all the grandkids on a special hike. Those breakfasts were legendary!

Karla was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she and Chuck served as temple workers together and served a mission at Temple Square together, greeting people and giving tours at the Conference Center.

Karla spent 10 years caring for Chuck after a debilitating fall and was there for him at his beck and call. The night he passed, she held his hand while he departed, surrounded by their children. As she left his room that night, she exclaimed, “Oh my heart!” and she has missed him dearly ever since.

Above all else she loved her children and her posterity. She did so much for each of her children through the years and was close with all her daughters-in-law and grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband Chuck, her parents, her stillborn son Taylor, her brothers Terry and Danny, grandchildren Sam and Krystal, great grandson Hyrum, and great-great grandson Ace.

She is survived by her brothers Dave, Mike, Grant “Buck,” and her five children, Kelli (Kimberly), Troy (Kerri), Toby (Maria), Travis (Charity) and Tyson (Katelyn), stepchildren, Eric (Kathy), Douglas (Leslie), Wendy (Karl), Sidnee (Mark), Roger (Joan), & Paige. Chuck & Karla had 40 Grandchildren, 88 great-grandchildren & three on the way, and nine great- great grandchildren.

The family would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Holli Eliason and Mandy Miller from Enhabit Hospice for the best, tender-loving care we could have hoped for.

Funeral services will be held at Larkin Sunset Garden in Sandy, 1950 E. 10600 S. on Saturday, April 26, at 11:00 a.m., with viewings Friday night April 25 from 6-8 p.m. and the following Saturday morning 10-10:45, just before the service on April 26. Graveside dedication will also be at Larkin Mausoleum following the funeral. The funeral will also be live-streamed. To view the service, please click on the blue tab above that says "Watch Service".