Carole Mellor

Gunnison, Utah - Our mom, grandma, great-grandma, aunt and friend, Verla Carole Barrett Myrup Mellor passed away gracefully late Thursday night February 10, 2011 at the Centerfield Community Assisted Living Center surrounded by her children and grandchildren. Carole was born in Helper, Utah, January 1, 1927 to Stanley Leroy and Vynina Ball Barrett. When she was three years old her mother passed away, leaving Carole, Keith and Norma without a mother at very young ages. Stanley, their father, later married Iris Gardner. Carole attended school in Salina Utah, graduating from North Sevier High School. As a youth she worked in the family grocery store which was later named Barrett’s Market. She was active in school activities. She wrote articles for the Deseret News in her years after high school. She was a very gifted and talented writer and helped to write many talks, tributes and scripts for students, funerals and other events. Carole met and later married Gerald Levi Myrup on September 8, 1948 in the Manti LDS Temple. They had one son, Gary, nine months prior to Gerald being killed when a horse reared over backwards killing Gerald on August 30, 1950. After Gerald’s death Carole went to work for First State Bank of Salina. While working at the bank she met and later married Calvert Leon Mellor on June 9, 1952 in Salina, Utah. After their marriage they moved to Bountiful Utah. Shortly after Marie was born, they moved to Gunnison and bought K & M Café and later re-modeled and changed the name to Cal & Carole’s Drive In. They were blessed with two more daughters Sheree and Leslee. Cal and Carole really enjoyed seeing and working with the youth and residents of Gunnison Valley while they owned and operated the “Polar King” until it was sold in the early 1970’s. Carole went to work for the Sanpete County Clerk’s Office in 1966. This position led her to later being the Sixth Judicial District Trial Court Coordinator. She traveled over the Six-County area from 1974 until her retirement in 1995. She thoroughly enjoyed her career in the judicial field and working with Judge Don V. Tibbs and the many other attorneys and court clerks she met and became friends with. Mom really missed the travel and activity of the daily schedule she had led for so much of her life, so upon retirement she did volunteer work for the Central Utah Correctional Facility earning many awards for her unselfish service to the program. Carole was very active with the Sanpete County Fairboard. She took the responsibility of the fairbook and turned it into a treasured keepsake for many residents. She was recognized for her work by being named the “Outstanding Fair Worker” by the Utah Association of Fairs & Shows in 1982, and the Sanpete County Fairboard in 1986. Carole served on the Gunnison Valley Hospital Board for 17 years dealing with some very major changes in administration and improvements. She was very active in the Centerfield American Legion Auxillary, holding many positions including President. Mom was active in the LDS church ward activities until her health prevented her from doing all she loved to do. Carole enjoyed the trips, parties and get-togethers with “The Gang”. Mom really enjoyed her annual trip to Las Vegas and the National Finals Rodeo up until the past couple of years when her health kept her from making the event. She enjoyed watching the Utah Jazz and for some strange reason developed an interest in watching golf…we still cannot figure out that one out. She loved to go and watch her grandchildren and great-grandchildren participate in any activity they were in. Carole was a member of the Boni Foi Literary club. She enjoyed making her annual trip to New York to see Marie and her family, often going with Marie to Europe and other festive and historical destinations. Cal passed away on November 25, 1997. Carole is survived by her son, Gary L. Myrup, daughters Marie (Ray) Ginther, Sheree McKean and Leslee (Ken) Nelson; 15 grand-children and 21 great-grand children. She is preceded in death by her parents, Stanley and Vynina Barrett, step-mother Iris Gardner Barrett; husbands, Gerald Myrup and Calvert Mellor, brothers Keith and Robert Barrett, sisters Norma and Maxine. Always there to help anyone and never saying anything less than complimentary about everyone, she made many friends everywhere she went. The family wishes to thank Carma Sorenson and the staff at the Centerfield Community Assisted Living Center, Dr. Jan Christensen, the staff of Gunnison Valley Hospital and Hospice and everyone else who helped to make mom’s final days as comfortable as possible. Your actions will be remembered by all of her family. Funeral services will be help on Saturday February 19, 2011 at 12 noon in the Gunnison LDS Stake Center, where friends may call for viewing Friday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. and again Saturday morning from 10:00 to 11:30 A.M. prior to services. Burial will take place in the Salina Eastside Cemetery under the care of the Springer Turner Funeral Home of Richfield and Salina.