Carol Ann Rowland Stephens, age 64, of Sandy, Utah, passed away on May 18, 2023, ending a long battle with cancer. Carol is survived by her husband, Jeffrey R. Stephens; children, Jeffrey (Kelly), Julia Clark (Jesse), Jordan, Jaimie White (Corbin), and Jade; grandchildren, Jace, Jeffrey, Jonas, Josie, Calvin, Dior, Scarlett, Justus, Victoria, Cora, Adele and Vera; father, Glenn Rowland; and sisters, Terye Davis and Stephanie Strang. Carol is predeceased by her mother, Margaret Irvine Rowland, and brothers, Brent and Paul.

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Carol was born on December 4, 1958, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Through DNA social networking Carol was recently able to make first contact with her birth family, discovering that she was “born to” the Navajo Todichiinii clan and “born for” the Navajo Honaghaanii clan.

Carol grew up in Provo, studied piano and ballet, and graduated from Provo High School in 1977. When Carol was 16, she attended Church College of New Zealand for a year while her family adventured in New Zealand and throughout the South Pacific.

Carol and Jeff met at Campus Plaza near BYU, married in the Salt Lake Temple on May 8, 1981, and began their lives together in Wenatchee, Washington, where they lived for five years and had their first four children. A few days after Jaimie’s birth the family moved to Sandy, Utah. Carol loved interior design. Once her four children were in school full time she went to work and back to school. Upon receiving a certificate of completion from Salt Lake Community College she was requested to stay on as an instructor, which she did for several years teaching a variety of interior design topics. Carol’s career in interior design was getting into full stride when Jade was born. Without hesitation or regret, she redirected her full attention to what she valued most, being a mother and creating a beautiful home.

Carol faced her cancer ordeal with the same courage and resolve that she exercised in confronting Jade’s health challenges, making the best of it and never complaining. When asked how she was doing, her reply was always “I’m OK”.

Carol loved Wednesday bowling with the “Bowling Beauties” and lunches with her “Lunch Bunch”. She loved art deco and old movies, and would comment that she must have mistakenly been born in the wrong decade. Carol loved dance and music, especially ballet, even taking ballet lessons as an adult. While attending Church College of New Zealand she won a cha-cha competition. She supported Ballet West as a patron for over 30 years, as well as Utah Opera for over a decade. Carol loved beauty and found it everywhere. She was in constant awe of the beauty of the colors of the sky, the green-blues of the ocean, and mountain and desert landscapes. Carol also loved to travel. Anywhere was fine with her, near or far, but she especially relished Europe.

Carol was beautiful on the inside also. She was a great success in the things that matter most. Carol dedicated her life to her five children. She hated contention and was never unkind. Her friendliness was genuine. She loved people, cherished friendships, and consistently found the time to make a new best friend and to nurture old friendships. Carol is missed more than she could ever have imagined.

Funeral services for Carol will be held Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at 11:30 a.m., in the Northridge Ward chapel, 11196 South Wasatch Blvd., Sandy, Utah. Friends and loved ones are also invited to greet the family there beginning at 9:30 a.m. Interment will begin at approximately 1:00 p.m. at Larkin Sunset Gardens in Sandy, Utah. Best access is at 10855 South 1700 East.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at https://memorialutah.com/obituaries/carol-ann-rowland-stephens/