Carma Lance Barlow passed away on January 17, 2024, in Mapleton, Utah.
Carma was born on May 21, 1930, in Logan, Utah, to Jay Reed Lance and Zina Cloene Barrus Lance. She grew up in Moab, Utah, where she excelled in school and enjoyed spending time with her parents, four siblings, and extended family. As a young woman, she served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in England and Scotland; upon her return, she worked hard to put herself through school, eventually graduating from Brigham Young University.
Carma married Brentnall Haven Barlow in the Salt Lake Temple on September 24, 1959. They moved to Taylorsville, Utah, where they lived for almost four decades. Carma and Brent were devoted to each other, their four children, and their 15 grandchildren. Carma loved being a grandmother and was known as the “marshmallow Grandma” because she often brought bags of marshmallows or Rice Krispy treats when she visited. Carma was also blessed with 21 great-grandchildren. In later life, she was able to live with two of her children and one granddaughter. By doing so, she was able to watch some of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren grow up. This brought her great joy and satisfaction.
Carma suffered from an illness that brought periodic challenges, but she and Brent worked through the hardships this brought. Carma loved doing family history work and extraction (a precursor to indexing). Before Brent’s retirement, she often rode with him to work at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, where she would spend the day doing family history for herself and her friends. After Brent’s retirement, they were always together. Brent’s death in 1999 devastated her, and she greatly looked forward to a reunion with her beloved husband.
Carma worked in various secretarial jobs, but her true interests included history, family history, and observing the beauty and variety of many plants, flowers, and trees. Although she desired to eat healthy, she also had a sweet tooth. Accordingly, she enjoyed experimenting with recipes by trying to reduce sugar and retain the taste (occasionally, she even succeeded!).
Carma was a faith-filled member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She loved watching BYU devotionals and “Music and the Spoken Word.” She loved attending the temple and was a faithful visiting teacher.
Above all, she was dedicated to her family and loved spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was soft-spoken and exuded patience and an appreciation for small blessings. Still, she had a sense of humor and occasionally surprised everyone with a “cheeky” remark.
Carma was generous with others, frugal with herself, and delighted in finding a good deal. When shopping or going out to eat, she would frequently remind those she was with to “Ask them if there is a senior discount.” When invited to travel to Hawaii or somewhere else exciting, she would reply, “When I die, Brent and I will travel the world together for free.” We imagine she and Brent are now enjoying their world tour.
Carma is survived by her daughters, Helen Gosling (Jeff), Kathy Wright (John), and Emily Lynn (Brad); 15 grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Reed Lance and his wife Norma, her brother Marlin Lance, her husband Brent, her son David Barlow, and her daughter-in-law Julie Pendleton Barlow.
Funeral services will be on Tuesday, January 23, 2024 at 11:00 at the Mapleton 17th Ward, 1068 S. 1600 W., Mapleton, Utah, 84664. Visitation will be will be held at 10 a.m. Interment will be at Salt Lake City Cemetery at 200 N St E, Salt Lake City, UT 84103, at 2:30 p.m. (Section X6; Navigation coordinates are: 40.778492, -111.855988)
Condolences can be offered at www.springcreekmortuary.com.
