Carol Searle Obituary

Carol Clark Searle

December 24, 1929 ~ February 22, 2026

Midvale UT-Carol Clark Searle, beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother peacefully returned to her Heavenly Father at age 96 in Sandy, Utah on February 22, 2026 to join her sweetheart, Leon on his 100th birthday. Carol was born on Christmas Eve, 1929 to Charles Symons Clark and Tessa Romney Clark in the family home in Oakley, Idaho. When carolers came to the front door singing, her parents decided to name her Carol.

Carol had an idyllic childhood. She swam in a nearby canal and as a teenager worked in the Clark Family Oakley Mercantile. She loved her peaceful family home and beautiful garden with yellow roses.

At an early age, she learned to play both the piano and violin and developed a lovely soprano voice. Her mother let her skip doing the dishes if she would practice the piano. She had six siblings; brothers Verl, Dallan, and Jon and sisters, Helen, Dona Faye, and Joan. The Clark sisters sang together and were known for harmonizing and performing at many community events. She blessed the lives of many people singing and playing at marriages, funerals and in many other settings.

As a teenager, Carol had a rare genetic eye disease. Her father took her to a specialist in Los Angeles where she received one of the first cornea transplants in the United States. The operation on her left eye was a success. The transplant in her right eye failed and she had vision in one eye for the rest of her life. She handled this challenge with grace and resilience.

While attending Oakley High School, Carol served as student body president. At Brigham Young University her musical studies were a priority and she requested a piano practice room at the only available time at 4:30 a.m. A performance of Brahms Requiem was a highlight of singing in a BYU choir.

At the age of 24, Carol served as a missionary in the New England States Mission, where she developed a love of spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She was always thinking about how she could share the 'good news' with others.

While on her mission, Carol met Elder Leon Clayson Searle, also a missionary in the New England States Mission. A mutual friend suggested Leon take Carol on a date. A surprise delivery of a dozen yellow roses to Carol at work started their romance. They were sealed for time and all eternity in the Idaho Falls Temple on May 23, 1955.

Carol and Leon made their first home in Rexburg, Idaho where four children blessed their union; Lynne, Clark, Dwight and Shelley. They moved to Midvale, Utah in 1963 where sons Gordon and Christopher joined the family.

Being a homemaker was Carol's greatest love. She loved art and displayed the original artwork of her mother and grandmother in her home. She had beautiful bouquets of roses from her garden to enjoy on the kitchen counter and dining room table. Her home was filled with music including the music of Nat King Cole and George Gershwin, Broadway musicals, religious hymns, children's songs and classical music.

Joy came from caring for her family. She served wonderful homemade meals, especially her Sunday dinners. She was know for her caramel popcorn balls, delicious orange rolls, bottled raspberries, and homemade honey taffy.

A valiant member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she served as Relief Society President, Ward Chorister and Organist, and Stake Music Director. Carol and Leon served as camp directors at the Oakcrest Girls Camp. They returned to New England to serve as Senior Missionaries in Maine. She shared her musical talents with the her Midvale Ward and Stake in musical programs. She cared deeply about the members of the Midvale 5th/6th Wards.

Carol was a sacrificing, loving, generous, and loyal woman. She saw the good in others. Neighbors, friends, and family members were the recipients of her kind words, gentle advice, phone calls, and hand-written notes. An avid journal keeper, she recorded her life with great care leaving behind a record of day-to-day events of family life, interactions with friends and neighbors, adventures, and travels.

Her life was filled with service to the church and fellowmen, love of family, hard work, selflessness, peacemaking, generosity, and commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Carol is survived by her brother, Jon Clark and by her children: Lynne (Duane) Martin, Clark (Marion Cahoon) Searle, Dwight (Kristi Tranter) Searle, Shelley (David) Keetch, Gordon (deceased), (Sara Milligan) Searle, Christopher (Mary Jane Woodger) Searle, 21 grandchildren, and 32 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Leon Clayson Searle, son, Gordon Charles Searle, and granddaughter, Jessica Keetch Minnesota.

The family wishes to acknowledge the full-time loving care of Chris Searle to our mother in her home for the past 10 years after she was diagnosed with dementia. We are also grateful for Mary Jane Searle and Janet and Mike Chidester who gave years of Christlike service to Carol.

We extend our thanks to the doctors, nurses, and staff at Alta View Hospital for their kind and professional care of our mother.

The Funeral Service will be held Friday, March 6, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. in the Midvale 5th Ward at 8171 S. Jackson Street, Midvale, UT.

A viewing will be held that day from 9:30-10:30 a.m. in the same location.

Interment will follow at the American Fork Cemetery, 26 W 600 N, American Fork, UT where Carol will be buried at the side of her husband Leon at the foot of Mount Timpanogos.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the LDS Missionary Department or a charity of your choice.