Carole Beth Whaley

Carole Beth Forrest Whaley, beloved mother, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend, passed away at the age of 84 in her home in Syracuse, Utah on April 4th. Her passing during the Easter weekend felt especially fitting, reflecting her deep love and devotion to Jesus Christ and to her Heavenly Father.

Carole was born on March 31, 1942, in Los Angeles, California, to John and Ruth Forrest, who preceded her in death. She was the firstborn in her family and dearly loved her two younger brothers, Richard and Jameson. She was raised in the Pacific Palisades and graduated from Montclair High School in 1960. She then attended Los Angeles College while working for AT&T.

Carole shared 59 wonderful years of marriage with her beloved husband, Robert Charles Whaley Jr., whom she married on February 29, 1964. Ten years later, in 1974, their marriage was sealed for time and all eternity in the Los Angeles Temple, along with their three children. Bob preceded her in death in January 2022. Their marriage was a rare and enduring love, marked by devotion, faith, and true partnership.

In 1978, Carole and Bob bought property in Chandler Heights, AZ, where they eventually built their dream home in Queen Creek, AZ. There, they raised their family and happily lived for over 43 years, creating wonderful memories with family and friends.

Carole cherished her family. She is survived by her three children: Alec Whaley, Brad Whaley, and Dianne Adams. Her legacy continues through her 13 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren, each of whom brought her immense joy.

Carole had a great sense of humor, an appetite for reading, and had many talents and skills. She loved all kinds of crafts and always had multiple projects in progress. She brought beauty into the world through her laughter, her wisdom and her creativity- drawing family and friends together to gather, connect, and create. Carole enjoyed the arts and theater and enjoyed watching theater productions. She also found joy in quilting, gardening, knitting, canning, sewing, embroidering, journaling, and creating thoughtful photo albums for her family, especially her grandchildren.

Carole was an exceptional cook, a gracious hostess, and a gifted organizer of gatherings that brought family and friends together. She consistently made time for her grandchildren. She loved cheering them on and cherished game nights, watching movies together, watching their team sports, their recitals and dance performances. She especially enjoyed their piano playing and singing karaoke together in her home.

Carole was a devoted follower and true disciple of Jesus Christ. Always prayerful, her goal was to uplift and look for opportunities to serve others wherever possible. She was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served faithfully in many callings, including Seminary teacher, Relief Society president, Sunday School teacher, Primary president, and Young Women’s president. She loved the Primary children and teaching them about the scriptures. She led the music in sacrament meetings, sang in the choir and faithfully attended the temple.

Carole will be remembered for her service, kindness, creativity, her laughter and enthusiasm and the way she made everyone feel seen, welcomed, and deeply loved. Her life was a shining example of devotion to friends, family and faith. Words cannot fully express how much she will be missed by her family and all who know her. She leaves behind a beautiful legacy of love that will be honored forever.