Lois Catherine Suisse Carlson

Lois passed away December 23, 2022 during surgery to remove blood clots from her lungs. Her death is a significant and unexpected event for those who know her and love her. Her seventy-five years blessed the lives of all who know her. How do people describe this uniquely magnificent woman? Here are a few descriptors: Cute, beautiful, fun, loving, a superb listener who made you feel heard, understood, validated, and valued. Mischievous, smart, with just the right amount of attitude. Self-sacrificing, stubborn, enduring, patient, and kind. Adventurous, strong, with unbelievable faith. And a good person, I mean really exceptionally good.

She was born September 14, 1947 in St. Claire Michigan and moved to Utah when she was a new teenager, which as you can imagine is a tough thing to do at that age. She graduated from Sky View High School in 1965 and attended college at Utah State University until she met Wayne Carlson and entered the three-and-fifty-year-plan where she would support him for his higher education for a few years then he would financially support her for the next 53 plus years. Wayne undoubtedly got the better end of the deal. Lois and Wayne lived in Alaska for the first four months of their marriage, then became globe hoppers after college living in Colorado, California, British Columbia, Toronto, Antwerp Belgium, Beaconsfield England, New Jersey, and Chicago before returning to Utah after 26 years. Along the way Nikki was born in Utah three days after Wayne’s graduation. Mark was also born in Utah but lived only a few days. Tiffany and Reed were born in Toronto and Cathy and Matt were born in New Jersey. Our babies grew up and had babies of their own 14 of them. And two of their babies have had babies 4 thus far.

The places where Lois lived became the gathering place for teenagers, missionaries, and people needing a place to be welcomed and accepted. For four years the high school volleyball team ate lunch in her kitchen and every Friday for five years the “posse” crashed at Lois’s home. The posse was a group of high schoolers who became intimate friends and went as a group to the high school proms and activities. She knew how many were staying in our house by counting the shoes at the front door. At midnight the girls went upstairs and the boys descended to the recreation areas in the basement. The Carlson place was the meeting place for 50 to 60 teenagers after high school events. Lois and Wayne’s date night was Friday night going to Sam’s Club to get treats and snacks to fill the beverage closet and snacks for the mob.

She was independent because she had to be; Wayne was so involved in business and church activities that her home became the informal meeting place for all kinds of meetings and activities. She fed and served a never-ending mass of people entering her home. Her life was rich with experiences that formed the beautiful tapestry of her life. She knew pain and suffering, years of it. Osteoarthritis and health issues prevented her from attending church for the last 6 years or so. She spent so much time in her inner sanctum that her room became her happy place, because she made it so. She knew she was loved every moment of her life and so she felt richly blessed. She was looking forward to life and the things to come so you can imagine her surprise! She never feared death because her faith was never in question, she trusted in the Lord completely.

Lois, well done thou good and faithful servant!!

Funeral services will be held Friday, December 30, 2022 at 11:00 am at the North Canyon 5^th Ward Chapel, 2505 S. Davis Blvd. Bountiful, Utah. The services will be streamed live and mayt be watched Friday at 11 am (MST) by clicking on the following link:

https://zoom.us/j/96182084822

A viewing will be held prior to the service at the church from 9:30-10:30 a.m. Interment will be in the Richmond Utah Cemetery. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at webbmortuary.com