Rea Carter Obituary (1922 - 2015)

Our dear, sweet mother and grandma, Rea Therning Carter, passed away on Wednesday, May 27, 2015, a month past her 93rd birthday. She was born in Bluebell, Utah, on April 12, 1922, the last of four daughters born to John Knud and Mabel Wayman Therning. Rea married S Neal Carter in the Salt Lake Temple on June 5, 1942. They moved to Cedar City in 1945, not long after Neal was discharged from the U.S. Navy. They had been married for nearly 67 years when Neal died in 2009. She dearly loved her children and their spouses, her 20 grandchildren and their spouses, and her 34 great-grandchildren. She enjoyed nothing more than being surrounded by the laughter and happy voices of children. She loved taking care of people. She volunteered as a Pink Lady at the hospital and at the Utah Shakespeare Festival. Rea's most outstanding quality was her great love for babies, children, and older people. She could never pass by a new baby without taking a peek. She was always able to make people who were hurting, sick, or depressed feel better. She knew just where to rub, put a pillow, or adjust a bed to ease a pain. She loved to stay up late every four years to be an election judge and help count all the votes. She traveled with Neal and others to see all the church history sites as well as Europe, Canada, Hawaii, and Alaska. She was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She served in all of the auxiliaries and in the name extraction program. She was very creative, had a keen sense of humor, and spread joy to all who knew her. She was always curious and very outgoingrarely did she meet a stranger on a bus or standing in a line without learning about their life story, their children, or the weather where they lived. She is survived by her children: Charlotte Grimshaw of Washington, UT, Boyd (Suzy) of St. George, UT, and JR (Denise) of Sandy, UT; her grandchildren and great-grandchildren; her daughter-in-law Linda Carter; and her brother-in-law Ruben Dotson. She is also survived by many adoring nieces, nephews, and friends. In addition to her beloved husband Neal, she is preceded in death by her parents, sisters Olena Tullgren, Emily Dotson, Venla Gee, son Michael, and son-in-law Richard Grimshaw. Funeral services will be held Friday, June 5, 2015, at 11:00 am at the Cedar 2nd Ward (256 S 900 W, Cedar City, UT). Viewings will be held Thursday, June 4th from 6:00-8:00 pm at Southern Utah Mortuary (190 N 300 W, Cedar City, UT) and Friday at the church, beginning at 9:30 am prior to the funeral. Interment will be in the Cedar City Cemetery. The family wishes to thank her friends and the staff at Spring Gardens Assisted Living for the love and care they showed to Rea during the past 18 months. They would also like to thank all of her Cedar City friends for their years of love, concern, kindness and service. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to the Michael K. Carter Memorial Scholarship Fund at SUU or the LDS Perpetual Education Fund. Condolences can be shared online at www.southernutahmortuary.com.