Carolyn Gillett

DECLO – Carolyn Whipple Gillett, age 67, of Declo, Idaho, passed away after a long fight with cancer on October 1, 2014.

She was born in Declo, Idaho on December 1, 1946, to Don & Norma Lou Whipple. Carolyn graduated salutatorian from Declo High School in 1965 and received a degree in Home Economics Education from Brigham Young University where she was valedictorian of her college and graduated magna cum laude. She married her sweetheart on July 20, 1967, in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple.

Carolyn was a high school English and Family and Consumer Science teacher until she retired. Her favorite part of teaching was her students. She was an active member of the LDS church and was blessed to have the opportunity to serve in several different callings with people that she loved. Carolyn and Dan were called to serve a mission for the Church Education System where they taught institute classes in Alabama. Carolyn was a great cook, an avid reader, and loved to make quilts, including one for each of her grandchildren. Above all else, being a wife, mother, and grandmother were most important to her. She planned family trips and reunions and her grandkids loved to come to her house for a fun cousins’ week. Carolyn was always interested in others and was good at making everyone feel special and loved. She was extremely proud of her children and grandchildren and her family was the focus of her life.

Carolyn is survived by her husband, Dan Gillett; her father Don Whipple; and her brothers, Glen (Darla) Whipple, of Wyoming, and Gary (Marcie) Whipple, of Utah; her children Tara (Troy) Whittier, of Utah; Becky (Justin) Heugly, of Utah; Shane (Camille) Gillett, of N. Dak.; Laurie (Chris) Crandall, of Idaho; and Lisa (Kirk) Nestler, of Idaho; and 26 grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Norma Lou Whipple.

The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 7, at the Declo LDS Stake Center, 213 W. Main St., in Declo, with Bishop Kelly A. Anthon officiating. Burial will be in the Declo Cemetery.

Friends may call from 6 until 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 6, at the Rasmussen Funeral Home, 1350 E. 16th St., in Burley, and from 10 until 10:45 a.m. Tuesday at the church.