Our beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, mentor and friend, Donald Richard Carroll, returned to his Heavenly Home on Saturday, March 29, at the age of 95. Don was born on Jan. 16, 1930, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, to Irene Maples. Don was raised in Muskogee, Oklahoma, by his mother Irene and his maternal grandfather and grandmother, Big Papa and Big Mama.
He worked as a pipefitter for his Uncle Parry, beginning at 15 years old. His education was provided by hard work, hard knocks and working for a living. Don was a military veteran and served in the Army for his country from 1951-1953.
Following work and the pipeline led him to Lyman, where he met, courted and married Sharol Louise Eyre, from Lyman. Sharol was a flirty farm girl who really wanted to see the world and really liked Don’s new red 1953 Mercury. They were married on June 29, 1956.
They were later sealed in the Ogden Temple on Feb. 25, 1986. That happy marriage lasted for 68 years until Don’s passing. To this union were born four children: Rick, Rochelle, Jerry and Roger.
After pipelining all over the country for the first 10 years of their marriage, Don began working at FMC trona mine in 1963. He worked there as a surface area maintenance man until his retirement in 1991.
Don loved Bridger Valley and was very active in the community of Lyman. He served 14 years as the treasurer of Uinta County School District #6. He served as a Cub Scout Master for many years. He helped find ways to fundraise such as 55-gallon drums from FMC converted to burning trash cans. He also headed up the efforts for the first AAU swimming program in Lyman.
He served faithfully in many callings in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Those callings included Young Men’s councilor before he was a member in the 1970s, Elders Quorum councilor and secretary, executive secretary for Bishop Melvin Platts, High Priest group leader, as well as helping on committees for the Pioneer Days Celebration.
Don’s hobbies included coin collecting. He collected state coins and created coin books for all of the kids, grandkids and great- grandkids. He also loved hunting, fishing and golfing.
Of all of Don’s accomplishments, he would tell you that the greatest was his family. Don loved to follow his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren wherever they were participating in sporting events throughout the states of Wyoming and Utah. He traveled thousands of miles to see football, basketball, swimming, cross-country, track, volleyball and soccer for children of all ages.
All of the children knew when he arrived at the venue by his loud whistle in the stands. He often slipped a few dollars to the children after the games for a quick trip to the concession stand.
Don is survived by his wife, Sharol; his children, Rick Carroll (Lisa), Rochelle (Scott) Shriner, Jerry Carroll (Donna) and Roger Carroll (Richelle); 16 grandchildren; 37 great-grandchildren (and more to come); and his sister-in-law, Jan Carroll.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Irene Maples; his brother, Jerry; his sister, Barbara; his wife Sharol’s parents, Clem and Ada; and daughter-in-law, Barbara.
Viewing will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Lyman chapel, 127 N. Main Street, Lyman, on Sunday, April 6, from 6-8 p.m. and Monday, April 7, from 9:30-10:45 a.m. Funeral services will begin at the church in Lyman at 11 a.m. Interment with military honors will follow at the Lyman City Cemetery.
