Carol was born on April 26, 1947 in Salt Lake City, Utah to James and Beverley Taylor Sorenson. She was the oldest of their eight children: Carol, Shauna, Jim, Ann, Joan, Joe, Gail and Christine. She had a happy childhood, growing up on Logan Circle and their home on 21st South in Salt Lake. She attended Dilworth Elementary, Hillside Jr. High and graduated from Highland High School and the University of Utah. She taught physical education at South High School. It was while taking a graduate class at the U that she met a tall, athletic returned missionary, Doug Smith.
Carol and Doug married on August 19, 1971 in the Salt Lake Temple. They were soon off to Florida State University in Tallahassee, where Doug had a faculty position. Carol worked in the FSU Comptroller’s office until the arrival of their first child, Elizabeth. A son, David, and another daughter, Sarah, were also born in Florida. A new job for Doug took the family to Ventura, California. While there, they welcomed sons Robert and Richard into the family. Doug and Carol loved their time in Tallahassee and Ventura, where they made life-long friends and enjoyed serving in their church callings. After years away from family, they returned closer to home, settling in Murray, Utah, where daughter Alison was born.
The family spent many happy years in their Castlefield home before Doug was diagnosed with cancer and passed away in 1991. Carol was left a young widow with six children ranging in ages from 18 to 3. She was an incredibly devoted mother, and her children knew that they were always her top priority.
Carol was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She served faithfully in all auxiliaries of the church and spent 15 years as a worker in the Jordan River Temple. She was a devout follower of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and she lived her life on the covenant path.
Carol was a generous philanthropist, who didn’t seek acclaim for her good works. Through her family foundation she supported many community groups. She also personally supported BYU Hawaii, art for temples, missionary work, and other meaningful causes. Perhaps her greatest giving, however, came in quietly meeting the needs of others.
Carol loved shopping with her daughters, was a huge fan of BYU football and the Utah Jazz, and enjoyed Sunday dinners and spending time in Hawaii and St. George with her children and grandchildren. She was a wonderful mother and grandmother and a kind and devoted friend.
Carol was preceded in death by her parents, Jim and Beverley Sorenson, and her husband, Douglas P. Smith. She is survived by her children: Liz (Mike) Mower, David Smith, Sarah (Jason) Dunn, Robert (Karin) Smith, Richard (Melissa) Smith, Alison (Will) Marshall, and 21 grandchildren and her brothers and sisters: Shauna (Ralph) Johnson, Jim (Krista) Sorenson, Ann (Gary) Crocker, Joan (Tim) Fenton, Joe (Kathleen) Sorenson, Gail (Tom) Williamsen, Christine (Dale) Harris, and brother-in-law Bruce (Jan) Smith.
A viewing will be held on Thursday, June 30 from 6:30-8 p.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 5913 S Highland Dr., Holladay, Utah. A viewing will also be held there on Friday, July 1 from 9:30-10:30 a.m., with the funeral to follow at 11 a.m. Interment will be at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park, 3401 S. Highland Dr.
