Carolyn S Kitchen

January 22, 1936 - September 5, 2014

Carolyn Stice Kitchen succumbed to her battle with cancer and died peacefully in her sleep on September 5, 2014, knowing that she was loved and revered by her husband, children, grandchildren, family, and friends. She was born January 22, 1936, in Highland, UT, the third daughter of Louise Roundy and R. Boyd Stice. She was educated in American Fork and spent two years in the Washington, DC area employed at the Pentagon. She returned to Utah to marry the missionary she had corresponded with for many months and eventually married Merlin R Kitchen in the Salt Lake Temple on September 12, 1957, five weeks after his return. After his graduation from Brigham Young University in Chemical Engineering they established their home in Midland, Michigan in 1960. Before the birth of her second child she made a conscious choice to be a homemaker, devoting her time and talents in concentrating on her family. For 30 years they reared their children and pursued careers, along with active participation in their LDS ward, making lifetime friendships. Upon retirement they moved back home to Utah to be close to parents and many other relatives. Their interest soon became apparent in their joint keen interest in genealogy and they worked together as a team and became active Family History Missionaries for nearly 20 years. Carolyn was proud of her pioneer heritage, especially Shadrach Roundy, Lorenzo Wesley Roundy, and Peter Shirts as well as the conversion histories of the Stice family from Missouri in the early 1900s. She was a born storyteller and related many tales of growing up living in the Pioneer cabin that is now an historic site owned by the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers which the Stice family donated, now located at Heritage Park in Highland, Utah. The Railroad Museum in Lehi, Utah was also dear to Carolyn as her Grandfather, R. J. Stice, was the Union Pacific Agent there for several years; it was the only two story Union Pacific depot west of the Mississippi. Her Grandmother, Alice Speer Stice, lived with her husband and four children upstairs. Carolyn’s helpful, gentle, and optimistic personality was admired by those who knew her. She always gave the benefit of the doubt whenever there was controversy. Her posterity, family, and friends held her in the highest regard as an elect woman. She nurtured her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren in the Lord’s way as a gentle and patient parent being a role model of Motherly virtues. She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Merlin R. Kitchen and six children: David (Nancy) Kitchen, Midland, MI; Marilyn (Gary) Smith, West Valley City, UT; Kathleen (Tim) Myers, Redmond, WA; Diane (Greg) Warburton, Lehi, UT; Donald (Lolis) Kitchen San Diego, CA; and Julie (Patrick) Stevenson, Raleigh, NC. She was blessed with 14 beloved grandchildren and 4 Great-Grandchildren, as well as two sisters Dorothy (Gareth) Seastrand and Darlene (William) van Werkhoven. Many extended family members and loved ones mourn her loss. Special thanks to those of Elevation Hospice who comforted her during this trying time: RN Wendy and CNA Melissa. Funeral Services for Carolyn will be held Friday, September 12 at 11: 00 am at the Orem Orchard Stake Center, 810 East 600 North, Orem, Utah, where a Visitation will be held Thursday, September 11, at 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm and prior to the service from 9:30 am to 10:30 am. Interment will be at the Orem City Cemetery, 1520 North 800 East, Orem, Utah. Funeral Directors: Utah Valley Mortuary. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.uvfuneral.com.