Carol June Waddoups Tyler's Obituary
Carol June Waddoups Tyler was born on May 12, 1933 in Lost River, Idaho and passed away peacefully on Sept. 14, 2023 surrounded by her children in her home in Millcreek, Utah. She was born to Royal Waddoups and Veta (née Jones) Waddoups and was the 9th of 12 children.
She grew up with her 9 brothers on a ranch in the rural farming community of Lost River, Idaho during the great depression. Her childhood home did not have electricity or running water until she reached her teenage years. As a young girl she learned to cook on a coal fired stove and wash clothes in a hand cranked wringer washer. She remembered walking to school when the snow was so deep it covered the fences. She became an aunt at a young age, and is beloved by her many nieces and nephews.
After graduating from Arco High School in 1951, she attended Rick's college at a time when it was a 4 year college where she studied Drama and English literature. In 1955, she graduated with a Bachelor's degree. She went on to teach English and Speech and Drama, first in Rigby, Idaho and then in Lehi, Utah.
In 1959, she met the love of her life, Lamont Tyler, at a BYU dance, where neither of them were students. They married in the Salt Lake Temple on March 21, 1960. Carol and Lamont had a true life long romance. They enjoyed the performing arts and regularly attended the ballet, the theater, the symphony and the opera together for more than 62 years. She loved traveling with Lamont. She frequently accompanied him on work related trips and together they visited Siberia, China, Israel, Egypt, the Caribbean, Australia, New Zealand and much of Europe. She often mused that as a child growing up in Lost River, she never dreamed she would travel the world and see all the places she had seen.
Not long after her marriage, she resigned from teaching to prepare for the birth of the first of her 7 children. She was the quintessential mother. She taught her children how to love by example. Her home was always filled with laughter, stories and constant chatter. Every child in the neighborhood was welcome in her home. Although the house was crowded, there was always room for one more friend at the dinner table.
Carol was passionate about literacy, and after her youngest child started school, she returned to teaching in a remedial math and reading program at Wasatch Junior High, and then in the special education program for many years. She also worked as a reading tutor and volunteered teaching English to refugees at the humanitarian center.
After raising her own children, she played a key role in the love and nurturing of her grandchildren. She was there to care for each new baby after their birth. She had 23 grandchildren, and each of them was unique, special and deeply loved by her. As a grandma, she baked cookies, popped popcorn, made homemade gifts for the children, read, and held wild cousin parties allowing the kids to bang pots and pans down the street on New Year’s Eve. She was the true and loving head of the family and her grandchildren adored her.
Carol was always involved in something creative. She wrote poetry, short stories, road shows and programs for church events. She performed dramatic and humorous readings. She sewed, crocheted, quilted and did embroidery. She was a wonderful cook. Her kitchen always smelled of fresh baked bread, pies or cookies. She was never content to follow a pattern or recipe exactly but always added some unique creative twist.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints provided the framework for everything she did in life. She loved Jesus Christ and sought tirelessly to emulate him by serving in her home, the church and the community. Over the years, she served in virtually every calling in the Church Relief Society, Primary and Young Women's programs. With her husband Lamont, she taught Sunday School at the Women's Jail, worked in the Temple and served a two year mission in Australia. She was the embodiment of the 13th Article of Faith: honest, true, chaste, benevolent and kind to every person. She endured challenges with grace and hope. She sought to find virtue and beauty in the people and world around her.
In her final years, she struggled with a brain tumor and calamities that left her weak, often in pain, and relying on care from others, yet she bore it with tremendous courage and grace.
Never was she cross and she was always grateful for those who loved and cared for her, which made caring for her a joy more than a burden.
She loved literature, poetry, flowers, nature, holding Lamont's hand and being surrounded by her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She had a gift for finding the positive in every person and every circumstance. She never spoke an unkind word about anyone. She will be deeply missed.
She was preceded in death by her husband Austin Lamont Tyler, her parents Royal and Veta Waddoups, her brothers Dean, Fred, Grant, Max, Don, Bob and Wayne Waddoups and her sisters Ruby Waddoups and Ruth McIntire. She is survived by her seven children and their spouses Linda & James Thompson, Bonnie Tyler & Richard Peterson, Kathy and Steve Hawkins, Matthew and Judy Tyler, Jeanene and Michael Pope, Emily Tyler and Armen Khachatryan, and Christopher and Melissa Tyler, as well as 23 grandchildren and their 13 spouses, 17 great-grandchildren and her brothers Jerry and Clark Waddoups.
The family expresses deep gratitude for those who cared for her, including her loving aid Moeata Salt, Aspen Ridge Hospice services and most importantly Michael and Jeanene Pope who's loving care allowed her to stay in her home which she loved.
All services will be held at East Millcreek 2nd Ward Chapel at 3750 S Hillside Ln (2500 E), Millcreek, Utah. Visitations will be held Friday, Sept. 22 from 6-8pm, and Saturday, September 23 at 9:30-10:30. The funeral service will follow commencing at 11am.
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