LaVonna Carter Obituary (1949

LaVonna Jones Carter passed away on Thursday morning October 15, 2015 from complications due to ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) at just 66 years of age. She passed away in the home of her daughter Valorie surrounded by her loving husband and family members. LaVonna was loved by all who knew her and many consider her to be an angel from heaven. She was born August 17, 1949 to Al and Beulah Jones in Provo, Utah but lived most of her early years in Parowan, Utah. She and her husband Gary have resided in Washington City, Utah for the past 35 years. She is survived by her loving husband Gary Arlan Carter and daughters Sharla Laursen and Valorie Chapman. She is also survived by her father Al Jones and siblings Gary, Brad, Paula, Darren and Shane. She has 6 beautiful grandchildren whom she loved more than life and she cherished every moment spent with them! She spent her life serving others. Thousands of people have been impacted by her loving, selfless service. Her love of others is her greatest legacy! LaVonna and her husband Gary were able to have several foster daughters whom they loved and cherished as their own. To this day, they have maintained contact with their foster daughters and have treated them as their own children. She had a love of flowers and spent many years helping her mother out in their flower shop in Parowan, Utah. She also loved the outdoors and activities such as hiking, camping, 4 wheeling, kayaking, biking, and more. She was a talented artist and enjoyed sketching, painting, ceramics and pottery. She was a cheerleader in high school and loved to dance. She even taught ballet at the age of 17. She served in many callings in the LDS church including Relief Society President, Compassionate Service Leader, Visiting Teacher, Young Women's Leader and President and others. She has provided countless meals to members of her ward who were unable to provide for themselves. She could be found regularly visiting the sick and caring for them with unconditional love and devotion. She doted over her husband Gary for over 47 years and was always by his side. Her husband Gary loves and adores LaVonna more than anything in this world. How fortunate he feels that after 3 years of trying, he finally won her over. She is the best thing that ever happened to him and he recognizes the hand of the Lord in bringing them together. She was a defender of truth and yet always avoided judging others. LaVonna quietly endured ALS without complaint while still insisting on helping and doing as much as she could for herself and others. Miraculously, she never had to suffer the indignity of not being able to take care of her basic needs on her own. The day before she passed she woke up and showered herself and put some makeup on and went to a doctor's appointment. On the way home she wanted to stop for lunch even though she could not eat more than a couple of bites. We anticipated that she would be with us for at least a few more months but a wise, kind and all-knowing Father in Heaven decided that it was her time to come home to Him. He understood that she would not deal well with some of the indignities associated with ALS so He allowed her to pass very quickly. For that, we will be eternally grateful. We love you Mom, we can't wait to see you on the other side. We know that you have entered into the rest of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Funeral services will be held Thursday, October 22, 2015 at 11:00 am at Washington City Stake Center (446 E Mangum Rd, Washington, UT). A viewing will be held Wednesday, October 21,2015 from 6-8:00 pm at Spilsbury Mortuary (110 S Bluff St, St. George, UT). On Thursday, October 22, 2015 the viewing will be held from 9-10:30 am at the Stake Center. Interment will be in the Washington City Cemetery under the direction of Southern Utah Mortuary. Online condolences can be made at www.sumortuary.com.