Carol Ann Christensen

Carol Ann was born during an earthquake, and the day she left us, the earth shook again. She will be remembered as a thoughtful and dedicated mother, grandma, and friend with a superb sense of humor.

Carol Ann was born March 12, 1934, in Provo Utah to James Ernest Reynolds and Ruth Louise Clark Reynolds. She loved spending time with her beloved parents and older sister, LaRae. She attended Joaquin Elementary School, Ferrer Junior High, and Brigham Young High School where she was a cheerleader and a member of the French Club, Chorus, Bookkeeping Team and the Pep Club. Her favorite subject was English. She attended BYU in 1953 and was a member of the Cougarettes.

Carol Ann met her future husband, Albert Leon Christensen, the summer before starting high school. They loved swimming at The Homestead, attending school dances, and going to live concerts in Salt Lake City including one of her favorite singers, Nat King Cole. They married on June 9, 1953, in the Salt Lake City LDS Temple. Their first home was on Capitol Hill.

While her husband served in the Air Force, they lived in Texas, Wyoming, and Tennessee. They returned to Utah and settled in Salt Lake City so Ab could study architecture at the University of Utah. In 1966, he designed a beautiful home for them in Bountiful, Utah. They had three children: Carri, Christena, and David. Carol Ann loved to join her husband on business trips to New York, San Fransico, Atlanta and Denver, and to go on road trips with her little family to Southern Utah, California, and the Pacific Coast. Her children loved when she would open “Carol’s Counter” during the long drives which included everyone’s favorite drinks and treats.

Carol Ann worked as a secretary for the executives at The Paris Company, as a cashier at Western Savings and Loan, and as a preschool teacher. Later, she was a secretary for her husband’s firm, Architects Planners Alliance. She was a manager for Sherman Kendall Hair Salons, a receptionist at Hair Technica, and a receptionist for Dr. Doucette’s OB-GYN practice.

Her organized and loquacious nature made her the perfect leader and volunteer. As a member and officer of the Women’s Architectural League, she planned home and garden tours and arranged for guest speakers. She was a member of the volunteer board and host for the Festival of the Trees, served as an elementary school PTA Secretary, and was a board member at the Golden Years Senior Center in Bountiful, Utah.

Carol Ann was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many callings. She was a dedicated visiting teacher and ministering sister for over 65 years. Her favorite callings were as Junior Sunday School Coordinator, a member of the primary presidency, and most of all, as a primary teacher. Many of her former charges say that she was their favorite teacher and the best part of their church class experience.

Reading was one of Carol Ann’s favorite activities. Throughout her life, she led multiple book clubs, and her personal library was unmatched. She shared and instilled a love of books in her children and grandchildren who continue to hold an important place for reading in their lives. She was a life-long supporter of the arts and a season ticket holder for Ballet West, Utah Opera, Pioneer Memorial Theatre, Salt Lake Acting Company, Grande Theatre, Centerpointe Legacy Theatre, and Tanner Dance. She enjoyed annual trips with friends to the Shakespeare Festival, Utah Festival Opera, Tuacahn Theatre, Branson, St. George, and San Fransico.

Carol Ann arranged and led many festive holiday events and birthday celebrations for her children and grandchildren complete with skits, crafts, treasure hunts with rhyming clues, and rousing games of Bingo with hand-wrapped (and sometimes hilarious) prizes. She was especially proud of her children and grandchildren’s talents, projects, and endeavors. She was the very best cheerleader at their games, recitals, and dance concerts. She loved going to lunch with her family and teaching them about the “art of conversation”.

She was a true friend who took a genuine interest in others and loved to laugh. Five minutes after meeting someone, she was already involved in their life story. She had an abundance of close friends, many of whom she kept in touch with for years. Until recently, she had a weekly lunch date with a friend she met in 1st grade.

Carol Ann is survived by her children: Carri Neal (Chuck), Christena Nelson, David Christensen (Scott Knell), and grandchildren: Diana Timothy (Tyler), Natalie Nelson, TJ Nelson, Andrew Neal, and Brady Nelson (Katelyn). She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Ab, her sister and brother-in-law, LaRae and Red Gourley, and her grandson, Nathan Nelson.

A private family graveside service was held in her honor.