Carol Nuttall Koeber

1936~2019 Carol Nuttall Koeber 82, Passed away at her home Friday May 17, 2019 she was born September 6, 1936 to William Reed and Vera Hone Nuttall. She married Richard Koeber July 6, 1964 in the Salt Lake Temple. They raised 6 children together throughout Arizona, Utah, Oregon, and Colorado....
Born in Grandview, Utah to William and Vera Nuttall, Carol was the fourth child of 11 children. In 1936 Grandview was an unincorporated part of Provo. Carol's mother, Vera, always declared Carol was a miracle child surrounded by angels. Carol survived childhood illnesses with near death experiences and later survived leukemia, as well. When she was 11, they moved to the southeast bench of Provo, growing gladiolus and raising a small herd of dairy cattle. Carol grew up in a loving family. Carol loved to share stories of her family's adventurous summer trips where they often went fishing in the Uintah mountains. Carol loved her family. She cared for her younger brothers and sisters helping her mother be able to work with her father in the family fields. With seven brothers and three sisters there was always lots of cooking and mending to do. As the oldest of the girls, Carol taught her sisters how to sew and cook. She was a beloved sister.
Carol graduated from BYU in 1959 in elementary education. While teaching school in Vernal, she met the love of her life, Richard. Richard Koeber was working for the Bureau of Public Roads when they met. His work led him all over the West. While in Dickinson, North Dakota prior to their marriage in July of 1964, the two shared love letters with each other. Their sweet love for each other never died. Here is an excerpt from their 1964 love letters.
"May 17, 1964 Dearest Richard, ...Sweetheart, your letters mean ever so much to me. I really do look forward to each one. Then-no more letters, just YOU! Won't that be wonderful? Sweetheart, I love you ever so very much. I'm so very thankful for you. I want to be your partner for all time and eternity. God bless you, honey. Lots of love, Carol"

"May 20, 1964 Dearest Carol, ...Today was really a red-letter day for me as I received two sweet, wonderful letters from you. ...Carol, I am anticipating the moment when we will be sealed for time and eternity. I am very fortunate and have much to be thankful for-most especially-You-Honey. I must say good night for now but send my love 24 hours a day to you. I pray that you may be blessed with strength, health, and protection. With All my Love, Rich."

One of Richard's last love letters to Carol was from Mother's Day this year. "Dearest Carol, thank you for all that you have done for our family. You are a loving example to all. Sweetheart I Love you! Lots of Love, Richard"

In November of 1969, Carol was thrilled to become a mother. Richard and Carol's first child, Mary Carol, was an adorable blonde-haired little girl. Their little family grew quickly in Arizona. With a family of five children in 1977, they made the move to Utah to be closer to Carol's family. In 1978 their last child of six children was born, Reed.

Carol loved her children completely. She was always vigilant in teaching her children. Her skills in education also made her a skilled mother.

"When I was a young child, I remember my mother having a schedule for us in the summer where she would do crafts with us on a certain day, take us to various parks throughout Salt Lake County on another day of the week, each week throughout the summer. My favorite was she would always read books aloud to us during the summer. When I was older, I remember one of my favorite books she read aloud was "The Bishops Horse Race."

Carol spent lots of time making fresh bread weekly, growing large gardens, and canning the home-grown fruits and vegetables. During late summer Carol, with Richard's help, would be canning late into the night. The family enjoyed the delicious home-canned peaches, jams, beans, and such. Carol would can hundreds of jars of food every summer.

While spending so much time in the kitchen she also played with her children, making head dresses from kitchen towels and play cars out of boxes.

Carol was an excellent seamstress and enjoyed sewing, quilting, and crocheting. She often made beloved creations for her children including a bean-filled turtle, doll clothes and blankets. She shared her love of crafting with her daughters who learned to sew and her grand-daughters learning to crochet. Later on, Carol spent countless hours making many quilts for her children, grand-children, and great-grandchild. Although the pieces of the quilt were sewn together with a machine, each stitch of the quilt, connecting the top of the quilt to the bottom, was by hand and with love.

Carol also had a deep love for music. When she was younger, she enjoyed playing the piano and encouraged her daughters to learn to play the piano. Her daughter Cheryl began with lessons in the fourth grade. With her mom's encouragement she continued and is now an excellent pianist. Carol also loved listening to music in the car and at home. Elevator music was her favorite to listen to while running errands in the family station wagon. Carol usually listened to similar music at home. Sometimes family members would have fun changing "Grandma's" radio station. Chelsie remembers, "After I changed Grandma's radio station a rap song came on and Grandma exclaimed, "oh this is a lovely song!" I don't think she heard a word of it." Carol struggled to hear sometimes, and family members often had fun trying to say things and not get caught having Carol hear them. But it usually wouldn't work, she was extremely good at reading lips.

As Carol's children grew and began families of their own, she made certain to visit whenever a grandchild was born to celebrate the joyous occasion. As Carol got older this become more difficult. But she loved visiting her children across the West. She also loved to travel. Carol and Richard made many trips across the West by car and enjoyed sightseeing, hiking, camping, and fishing.

Carol was actively involved in serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She was a Den mother for her son Ralph, and his age group for a number of years. She was involved in Primary and was an excellent visiting teacher. She always made sure to go each month. She worked as a temple worker in the Denver, Colorado Temple and in the Jordan River, Utah Temple. Later she served beside her soul-mate, Richard, as a service missionary at the Church Employment Center in West Jordan, Utah.

Carol loved conversation and had a fun sense of humor. She would often provide advice to her children, although at the time it may not have been greatly appreciated, will now be greatly missed. She had a wealth of knowledge, which was always loved. She also had a love for playing games. She spent lots of time with her posterity playing games. Some of her favorites were Rook, Panjandrum, Scrabble, Go to the Head of the Class, and others. On the computer she loved to play Mahjong and Solitaire.

Carol is a beloved sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She loved and served her family continually. We miss you and love you Carol, Sweet Heart, Mom, Grandma! You are stitched in our hearts forever just like the quilts you made and the comforting afghan blankets.

Until we meet again. XOXOXO
She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Richard; her children Ralph (Valerie) Koeber; Dianne (Steve) Hodnett; Cheryl (Steve) Simon; Nancy (Chris) Strickland; Reed (Rachael) Koeber; 17 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Reed and Vera; her brother, Stanley; and her daughter, Mary Carol.
Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 am Saturday, May 25, 2019 at the LDS Stake Center located at 4881 West Cindy Lane, South Jordan, UT with a viewing Friday evening from 6-8 PM and Saturday morning from 9-10 AM.