Carol Smith

1953 - 2021

Carol Smith

Carol Smith (67) peacefully passed away on July 17, 2021 after a short struggle with cancer. She was born on December 2, 1953 in Phoenix, Arizona, the daughter of Marion and Wanda (Turley) Smith. She grew up in east Phoenix on a five-acre property with room to run and roam. Her siblings were her playmates and best friends.

As Carol's father was a veterinarian, her love of animals was developed from birth. The family had a continually changing collection of pets and exotic animals. Throughout her life she rescued or rehabilitated animals, finding good homes for them.

After graduating from Arcadia High School in 1971, Carol traveled with other high school students to Europe. This whetted her appetite to see the world.

Carol pursued higher education to become a nurse. Early in her career, she donated vacation time to work with a humanitarian organization that traveled into many Spanish speaking countries. She became fluent in Spanish and used it throughout her life as a nurse. She traveled to the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, and many locations throughout Mexico and Central America, loving the language and cultures of each country.

In 1986 Carol's adventurous appetite took her to Saudi Arabia to work at an English-speaking hospital that served the Saud royal family. Working with an international group of doctors and medical professionals, she gained valuable tips that helped in making travel plans on excursions throughout the Middle East and then all over the world. She had an innate love of all cultures and people, especially drawn to the archaeology of the ancient world and the people of third world countries.

Carol retired in Mesa, AZ in 2014 after 28 years of life in the Middle East. By the time she was 60 she had traveled to upwards of 100 countries on 6 continents. Her home was like an exotic museum with furnishings and artifacts from all over the world.

Carol was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her last seven years were spent serving her community, church and family. She ministered weekly to people she loved at an assisted living center near her home. Carol took over the primary responsibility of caregiver to her mother.

Carol is survived by her mother, siblings: David (Judy) Smith, Susan (Wayne) LeSueur, Jennifer (Chuck) Adair, Norman (Marianne) Smith, Spencer (Jennifer) Smith, Brian (Carrie) Smith, and dozens of loving nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father.

A visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 28 from 6:00-8:00 pm at Bunker Mortuary, 33 N. Centennial Way, Mesa, Arizona. A private family interment will be held at the City of Mesa Cemetery on Thursday morning, July 29. Funeral service will be held on Thursday, July 29 at 2:00 pm at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1852 North Stapley Drive, Mesa, Arizona. Friends may visit with the family prior to the service at 1:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers consider donations to the Humanitarian Fund below:

https://philanthropies.churchofjesuschrist.org/humanitarian-services