Carol Williams

Teasdale, Utah – Donna Carol Harward Williams, age 88, of Teasdale, passed away March 20, 2024, in Richfield, Utah.

Carol was born July 11, 1935, in Aurora, Utah, to Royal Thomas and Donna Pauline Bagley Harward. At the age of 2 her family moved to Loa, Utah, where her dad started the first cheese plant. When she was 6 years old the first of her 5 younger brothers was born. She enjoyed being an older sister and loved her little brothers. At the age of 6 she was nearly killed when a ram butted her; she spent months in the hospital and had to learn to walk again. She spent her childhood working in the family store and exploring Big Rocks and surrounding areas with her friends and family.

She graduated from Wayne High School in Bicknell Class of 1953. She attended Brigham Young University (BYU), graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Home Economics Education in 1957.

Carol formally met Dwight S Williams at a dance at the Big Apple in Torrey, Utah, (although she had known of him before). They were married and sealed on August 30, 1957, in the Salt Lake LDS Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. They made their home in Teasdale, Utah, moving into the Williams home built in 1882. Over the years Carol and Dwight remodeled, added, and beautified the historic home. Carol and Dwight were blessed with 5 children over the years. While children brought much happiness there was great sorrow, when their oldest child, Thomas, died from cancer at the age of 3.

In the early 1970s Carol returned to college to pursue a master’s degree at Utah State University (USU). She went to school in Logan, Utah, while residing 300 miles away in Teasdale — far before distance technology was available. She and Dwight juggled kids, work, and school to make her advanced degree possible. After 8 years, many miles, and much hard work she graduated with a master’s degree in nutrition and food science in 1979.

Carol taught Home Economics and other courses at Wayne High School from 1957-1969. She began a 38-year career with USU Extension Services in 1969. She loved working in a job where she could teach others to sew, cook, upholster/refinish furniture, improve finances, and better their homes and lives. She enjoyed working with youth in the 4-H program. In 1991 she was honored with the E.G. Peterson Extension award and recognized at USU Commencement.

Carol was a fantastic cook. She was known for her cinnamon rolls, preserved every morsel of produce grown, and always worried that everyone was “hungry.” She grew up cooking for 5 brothers and never stopped. She could sew anything from a tailored suit to a T-shirt and never missed an opportunity to buy fabric. She was a talented pianist, serving as the ward organist for over 40 years. She consistently worked on her musical talent and was a tremendous influence on her children and grandchildren. She had a green thumb and could make the most finicky plant grow. The flowers surrounding her home were beautiful and her garden could feed armies. In her later years blindness from macular degeneration made it difficult for her to do many of the things that brought her joy.

She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints serving in many callings including Relief Society President, Young Women’s President, Organist, Sunday School Teacher, and many others. She studied the gospel and had a talent for explaining the scriptures. She read the scriptures daily and recently was working on reading the Old Testament, carefully studying each word with an iPad on large font and a magnifying glass.

Carol was a wonderful mother of 5 children: Thomas Dwight Williams (deceased); Gustavious Paul and Adrienne Breillatt Williams of Alpine; David Royal and Suzie Cox Williams of West Jordan; Donna Pauline Williams of Spanish Fork; Jeffrey Mark and Rachelle Rees Williams of Teasdale. She has 11 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren with 2 on the way.

She is survived by her husband of 67 years Dwight S Williams; her 4 children; brothers Ronald Vermont Harward (Julie), Kendall Thomas Harward (Margo), and Layne Bagley Harward; sisters-in-law Colleen Harris (Carvel) and Gloria Holladay Harward (Newell).

She was preceded in death by her son Thomas Dwight Williams, her parents Royal and Donna Harward, a brother and sister-in-law Carvel Royal Harward and Marilyn Brian Harward; brother Newell Edward Harward; and sister-in-law Betty Bigelow Harward.

The family wishes to express their thanks to the staff at Stonehenge of Richfield for their patience, kindness, and tender care of our mother for these past 5 years.

Funeral services will be held Friday, April 5, 2024, at 1:00 P.M. in the Torrey LDS Ward Chapel, where friends and family may call for viewing Friday morning from 10:00 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. prior to the services.

Live-streaming of the services can be found at www.springerturner.com under Carol’s obituary about 15 minutes prior to starting time.

FUNERAL SERVICE LIVESTREAM

Burial will be in the Teasdale Cemetery under the care of Spring Turner Funeral Home of Richfield and Salina, Utah.