Mirtia Elena Carrio

Mirtia Elena Carrio of League City, Texas, age 69, passed away on Sunday, October 4th, 2026, in Draper, Utah. She leaves a legacy to her five children and 21 grandchildren of hard work, faith, compassion, and loyalty to family.

Although Mirtia was born in Harlingen, Texas, her family moved to Chicago, Illinois when she was a young girl. As a teenager in Chicago, she became captivated by the plight of those overlooked by the justice system and gained a desire to become a Criminal Justice lawyer. When she communicated to her close-knit family that she was determined to attend the University of Houston, her parents decided to support her by quitting their jobs and moving the entire family to Houston.

In Houston, as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, her family was assigned a home teacher to visit her family and share spiritual messages named John Stephen Carrio. Mirtia initially resisted his invitations to start dating him, but was won over by his persistence and his strong belief in God. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple on September 28th, 1977 and then immediately began having children and growing a family.

Mirtia attempted to continue schooling, but decided to prioritize raising a family instead. However, after John experienced a workplace accident and finances became tighter, she drew on the example of her mother Irma T. Flores and returned to school. Just as Irma worked for G.E. as she raised her family and earned a degree, Mirtia also began taking night classes and working the overnight shift as she got a nursing degree from Houston Community College in 1995. Mirtia often recounted that getting that degree and passing her exams on the first attempt was one of her greatest accomplishments outside of raising her children. Working as a registered nurse at UTMB, her strength and compassion were recognized as she became a charge nurse and an integral part of teams in the operating room as a CNOR. She was beloved and respected for her commitment and advocacy for her patients.

Mirtia had faith in a loving, personal God, and instilled that conviction in family and acquaintances through her daily prayers and service. One of the last things she wrote was a personal note found next to her bedside, which said in part, “Heavenly Father is always listening.” A lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she served those in her congregation and community as a Relief Society President, in the Young Women’s and Primary presidencies, and numerous other callings.

True to her name, Mirtia was fun-loving and filled with mirth. Mirtia loved listening to music, whether it was her favorite hymn, “Count Your Many Blessings,” or her favorite song, which her daughter played for her every day in the hospital, “La Vida es un Carnaval” by Celia Cruz. Mirtia loved to dance, whether with her kids and husband on a Saturday morning or after retirement in a Zumba class with friends she made there. Mirtia loved to shop with anyone; she loved her Chanel lotion and perfume, and she was on a first-name basis with the jewelry department clerk at JCPenney. Mirtia loved to read, taking the kids to the library and instilling her belief in strong women as she read Little Women with them.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 49 years John Stephen Carrio, her parents Jesus Flores and Irma T. Flores, her siblings Martina, Sylvia, Eloy, Jesus “Jesse” and Moises.

She is survived by all 5 of her children: Florentina Linda (Cody); Irma Irene (Jacob); Mirtha Marie (Richard); Amanda Bess (Philip); John Stephen II (Leslie); her siblings Irma Posada, Lucy Welch and Saul Flores. She is also survived by 21 grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A visitation will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 505 Deseret Dr, Friendswood, TX 77546, US, on October 10, 2026, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am.

A funeral service will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 505 Deseret Dr, Friendswood, TX 77546, US, on October 10, 2026, at 11:00 am.

A committal service will be held at Forest Park East Cemetery, 21620 Gulf Fwy, Webster, TX 77598, US, on October 10, 2026, at 1:00 pm.