Carol Sperry

She married Arthur Joy Sperry on May 9, 1946, in the Salt Lake City Temple. She loved her husband more than imagination can conceive. Their love story was truly remarkable. They constantly supported each other, and their eyes sparkled when they were together. Their love built a wonderful home where they raised three boys.

Carol was an amazing woman. She was unusually intelligent. She worked hard and was tenacious. She read continually and developed deep insights into people and life. She had a strong love of life. Her enthusiasm was infectious.

Carol was always willing to listen to people – to all people. She was remarkably connected to people wherever she went. When she listened to you, you knew that you had a sympathetic ear. Her heart was large enough to include everyone. When you became her friend, it lasted a lifetime.

Carol was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She had several remarkable service opportunities because of her faithfulness. Together with her husband, Arthur, she served the world-wide Church as the mission mother and companion to the president of the Philippines, Davao Mission from 1980 to 1983. Her kindness and competence were recognized by President Victor L. Brown who called her to serve as the Assistant Matron in the Salt Lake Temple. She later served as Matron of the Provo Temple from 1986 to 1989. Subsequently she served with her husband as they presided over the London, England Missionary Training Center from 1991 to 1993. She also served with her husband on a special assignment to the Nauvoo Temple in 2003.

Carol loved the people of the Philippines and the missionaries who served with them on the Island of Mindanao. She maintained joyful contact with them up to the time of her death. Carol loved the missionaries they trained and the staff who served with them in London. She continued to receive telephone calls, emails, and letters from these missionaries. Remarkably, she regularly answered letters and emails – always expressing love and giving kindness.

Her life was deeply impacted by serving in the Provo Temple. She served alongside so many temple workers whose faith and service inspired her. Like all her missionaries, these workers etched a permanent place in her heart.

Her family cherishes our memories of “Christmas Carol.” She was always cheerful and always giving. Each of her children and grandchildren insist to this day that they are Carols favorite. She also had great love and affection for her nieces and nephews. They responded with reciprocal affection. We all love her and will miss her greatly.

She is survived by two of her three children: Bill (Pam) and Richard (Janet), both of Salt Lake City. She is also survived by nine grandchildren, seventeen great-grandchildren, and sisters-in-law Annarae Ploeger, Fonda Sperry, and Kathleen Nelson.

Carol was preceded in death by her beloved husband Arthur on October 19, 2017, her oldest son, Mark (Denise) of Miami, Florida on April 14, 2017, her grandson Matthew Sperry on January 11, 2021. She was also preceded in death by her parents, her sister Margaret, her brother Ralph Jones and wife Arlene, sister Donna Lofgren and husband Dave, her brother-in law Glenn Rudd and wife Marva, brother-in-law Kenneth Sperry and wife Dolly, and her brother’s-in law Joseph W. Sperry, H. John Ploeger and Larry Nelson. What an incredible reunion she is having now in her new life.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, October 3, 2023, at 1:00 pm at Wasatch Lawn Mortuary located at 3401 South Highland Drive. Friends may visit with family prior to the service on Tuesday from 11:00 am to 12:45 pm, also at the Mortuary. Interment will follow at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park. Online condolences may be shared at www.wasatchlawn.com.