Carolyn Pierson Burbidge's Obituary
Carolyn Pierson Burbidge passed away on the morning of Friday, August 16, 2024. She had family by her side as she ended her earthly journey.
Carolyn was born on June 27, 1944, to Newell Wayne Pierson and Virl Welsh Pierson. Carolyn was the middle child, with Weldon as her older brother and Shirlee as her younger sister. Carolyn was born in Salt Lake and grew up in Sugarhouse on Douglas Street. She and Weldon and Shirlee were great friends and maintained a great friendship throughout their lives. She attended Garfield Elementary, Irving Junior High and then attended and graduated from Highland High School.
Carolyn’s life forever changed on the evening of July 27th, 1961. It was the summer before her senior year. Her parents invited her to go to the ward party with them and she agreed to go. A handsome George S. Burbidge had returned home from his mission that morning and had also decided to go to the ward party. He took one look at Carolyn and realized that she was the one for him. They got engaged in October of her senior year, and were married the day after her graduation, June 6, 1962. George and Carolyn just celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary.
Carolyn and George had four kids – Jill, George W. (Buzz), Kim and Mindy. Carolyn’s joy was in being a wife and mother, and she was an amazing one. She was an incredible homemaker. She had grown up with both parents working and hated coming home to an empty house. She vowed she would not have her kids come home to an empty house, but wanted them to come home to warm chocolate chip cookies or a hot loaf of bread ready to be slathered with butter and homemade jam. She was never one to just keep those goodies in her home, she made sure that a portion of any baked goods made it to an elderly widow or widower in the neighborhood.
As a young mother in 1969, she decided she really wanted to buy George a Christmas present but did not want to have him know that money was coming out of the family budget. Their friend was a Salt Lake County Constable and had some civil papers that needed to be delivered in Davis County. So, after delivering the papers she decided it was not too bad, and after talking about it, George and Carolyn decided that she should seek the appointment of Davis County Constable. Carolyn was not only appointed, and then elected to that position for the next 24 years, but also became POST certified. It was a job that allowed her to be flexible in her schedule while fulfilling her wants as a mother.
Carolyn and George had the opportunity to travel the world together. Several times they were part of an official delegation, other times they took students to experience different customs and cultures, later they would re-visit places they had loved. They made lifelong friends on some of these adventures and still visit and correspond with friends in New Zealand and Austria.
Carolyn was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She served in many positions from Primary teacher to Stake Relief Society Presidency. She loved the associations she made in each of the organizations she served. She had a deep belief in the gospel and had a very personal relationship with her Savior, Jesus Christ. She worked hard to be a disciple of Christ. Prayer was her strength, and she would often turn to the Lord with concerns and with gratitude.
On February 22, Carolyn was diagnosed with a glioblastoma brain tumor. This is where we saw her true character. Never once did she ask why she had to have this trial. Her prayers were prayers of gratitude. Her actions were actions of kindness. She would pray to find ways that she could still serve others in her diminished capacity. Her goal was to be everyone’s favorite patient because of her genuine kindness. She accomplished her goal!
Carolyn was preceded in death by her parents, Wayne and Virl, and her siblings, Weldon and Shirlee, and a grandson, Atticus Taylor Ball. Carolyn is survived by her eternal companion, George Smith Burbidge, her four children, Jill Burbidge, George William (Buzz) (Karen) Burbidge, Kimberly (Thomas) Ball and Mindy (Christopher) Strunk. She is also survived by her 15 grandchildren – Tyler, Terek, Tannon, Tad and Tayden Behunin; Alexandria and Lauren Burbidge; McKinley, Stratford (Zippy) and Talmage Ball; Grayson, Rockwell, Maclane, Brinton and Anders Strunk, and 6 great grandchildren.
A special thanks to everyone that not only loved her throughout her life here on earth, but especially during the last six months helping us navigate everything that came with this disease. We appreciate all of the friends who came to visit and the amazing teams at Huntsman Cancer Institute, Craig Neilsen Rehabilitation Center and Barton Creek. We love you all!
Funeral services will be held on Friday, August 30, 2024, at 11:15 a.m., at the Bountiful 34th Ward, 540 N. 1200 E., Bountiful Utah. A viewing/visitation will be held just prior to the service from 9:30-11. Interment will be at the Bountiful City Cemetery.
For those who were unable to attend the service in person, a video recording has been made available: https://youtu.be/pl8M4f3wshs
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