Carol Kennedy Davis

She spent her final moments surrounded by family in her own apartment. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Carol was loved by everyone she met, throughout her life. . .that’s not hyperbole. Her family has received unsolicited positive feedback to that effect for decades from many sources, known and unknown. Why? Difficult to put into words, but she was a true Christian and inherited qualities from her mother that endeared her to many. Like her mother, she was genuine, grounded, honest, caring, respectful, and positive. Carol shunned any sort of pretense or superficiality. She had an affable gift of gab that always made the other person feel appreciated, respected, and valued. . . independent of who the other person was. She spoke with one voice to all, gave folks the benefit of the doubt, and all could take her word at face value. In short, she cared about others, and they in turn cared about her.

Carol also inherited many wonderful qualities from her father, such as an amazing head for details, a wry sarcastic sense of humor, and a gift for documentation. One of her favorite phrases was, “We need to write that down,” which she always used to do in impressive detail. She wrote lists and letters, cards, etc. with calligraphy worthy of framing. Like Carol herself, her calligraphy was flowing, beautiful, and feminine. Owing to their beauty, her handwritten cards have been universally saved and re-read.

From her father, she picked up a keen interest in politics (and strong opinions to match!). Following his example, Carol learned how to face and overcome daunting challenges and setbacks with grit, grace, and courage. She never gave up nor gave in, and always soldiered on in spite of very tough obstacles. Her life was not easy, but it was rewardingly rich with regard to her two passions, faith and family.

In 1935, she was born in Washington, D.C. to Lenora Bingham Kennedy and David M. Kennedy. In 1947, upon accepting a new job, her father drove the family of six (with tears in their eyes) westward to start a new life. On the long journey, he attempted to cheer up the girls by describing the City of Broad Shoulders and Hog Butcher to the World, etc.. . .attempting to convey the exciting opportunity awaiting them in Chicago. They settled in Evanston, IL, where Carol attended junior high and high school. The family was among the founding members of the embryonic North Shore ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, which originally met in the Edgewater Beach Hotel before a ward house was built.

In 1953, Carol graduated from Evanston Township High School. Ignoring her father’s advice to “please stay home and attend Northwestern,” she headed west to Brigham Young University (BYU) where she studied English and French. Throughout her life, she was a master speller and answered spelling questions from children and grandchildren without reference to any dictionary (hard copy or virtual). She really enjoyed her brief time at BYU and was a Cougarette and crowned Banyan Queen (a year-book honor).

Five-foot two, eyes of blue, charming, and beautiful, eighteen-year-old Carol caught the eye of fellow BYU student and returned missionary Jack Whittle. After Jack proposed, Carol’s father sent his wife Lenora to Utah with clear instructions, “Go out there and break that relationship up. Carol’s too young to get married and needs to get an education.” Well, mother Lenora made the journey, attempted the task, but was charmed by Jack’s parents and ultimately failed to execute her husband’s loving marching orders. As a result, in 1954, when she had just turned 19, Carol and Jack were married in the Salt Lake City Temple.

After her husband’s graduation, the family headed back to Chicago where they settled and built their life (interrupted only by her husband’s brief assignment to Wright Patterson Airforce Base in Dayton, OH. . .Carol remembered the young family’s time in Dayton fondly). From 1957 through 1968, Carol gave birth to five children. Faith and family were the focus of her life, time, and energy. She was a devoutly active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and dedicated her life to caring for her husband and raising five children with profound love, patience, guidance, and grace.

But unfortunately, life turned out not to be “fairy-tale happily ever after” for Carol. In 1979, after 25 years of marriage, Carol was compelled to confront a jarring and unwelcome divorce. She was devastated and struggled the next couple years with depression and doubts. . .looking backwards and revisiting “what went wrong?” But courageously, in 1981, she made a bold decision and decided to start a new life. She moved with her youngest daughter Christine (age 13 at the time) 1500 miles west to Salt Lake City. . .in search of hope and a better future.

Carol bought a house near her parents and sisters in the Cove Point area of Salt Lake City (now Millcreek). She became an active member of the Mount Olympus East Millcreek 14th Ward. One Sunday, her friend Afton Rirey said, “I have a friend I want you to meet. He’s a wonderful, honest, caring man named Ben Davis. Ben’s a widower. . .he lovingly took care of his ailing wife to the end.” So one Saturday night, Ben invited Carol to the Salt Lake County Fair. To her own surprise (and that of her children’s), this forty-seven-year-old mother of five suddenly turned into a blushing school girl once again. It was amazing to watch.

The plot twisted and the fairy tale did indeed have a surprising and happy turn. . .as Ben turned out to be a prince. He came into Carol’s life and swept her off her feet. They fell madly in love and got married six months later (1983) in the Salt Lake City Temple. This time the fairy tale had a long stretch and a happy ending. They enjoyed almost three decades of wedded happiness before Ben died in 2012. Carol continued to carry love for him in her heart and missed him dearly every day thereafter. On December 22, 2025, this painful separation came to an end.

On her last day on this earth, Carol told her caregiver Cecilia more than once, “I want to go.” Cecilia asked, “Where do you want to go?” Carol replied, “I want to go to Barbara.” This remained a puzzle to Ceclia until later that day when Carol’s children clarified that Barbara is one of Carol’s older sisters. Barbara went home to Jesus in 2020.

The night prior, Carol’s family gathered to honor Carol in a large celebration. Owing to travel schedules, it was sort of a second ninetieth birthday party (the more the merrier). As long as anyone can remember, before Christmas each year, one of Carol’s favorite things to do was recite T’was the Night before Christmas. No one turned the picture-book pages and looked at the children more lovingly than Grandma Great Carol with her well coiffed hair, freshly applied lipstick, twinkle in her eye, and dimples so merry. On December 21, 2025, on queue, she recited the poem from memory. . .one last time. May she now be settled down for a peaceful, long-winter’s nap. . .

Carol was preceded in death by her husband Ben Hunsaker Davis, daughter Kathryn Whittle Fuentes and stepdaughters Shauna Davis Beckwith and Cheryl Davis Cotro-Manes. She is survived by sons, John (Judith Lobo) Whittle, James (Choon Kim) Whittle, and daughters Nancy Whittle (Mark) Myers, and Christine Whittle (Roger) Moffat, stepson Steven (Luana Kidd) Davis and stepdaughter Lisa Davis (Ali) Izadpanah, her 19 grandchildren, and 9 great grandchildren.

At 12:00 noon on Saturday, January 10, 2026 at Wasatch Lawn Mortuary, 3401 S. Highland Drive, Millcreek Utah, 84106, a viewing will be held. A funeral will follow at 1:00 p.m. (same place). Interment will immediately follow the services at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park (same written address as the mortuary). For those unable to attend in person, a livestream will be available: https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/c26014753896302