Carolyn Funk Gifford, age 84, passed away peacefully on the morning of February 9, 2025.

Carolyn was born February 16, 1940 in Fairfield, Idaho to Foster and Roma Funk.  She was the fourth of five children.

She graduated from high school in Blythe California in 1958.  After graduation, she attended BYU where she met Lee Gifford who became the love of her life.  They  married on March 19, 1959 in the Mesa Arizona Temple.

Carolyn and Lee were the proud parents of 9 children.  She is survived by Brent (Deb), Shaunna (Russ Rubert), Layne (Holly), Anjeanette (Joel Anderson), Brooke (Zachary Bailey), Mitchell (Rebekah) and Whitney (Stacie).  She was preceded in death by Lee and their sons, Lance and Kevin.  Their posterity includes 46 grandchildren, 50 great grandchildren (with more on the way), and 1 great great grandchild.
She was also preceded in death by her parents and her brothers Dean and Keith.  She is survived by her brother Sheryl (Doreen) Funk and sister Leonnie (Jim Osborne)

Once her youngest child was in school, Carolyn returned to BYU and completed her degree in elementary education. She was a natural born teacher in every aspect of her life, and decided to not only bless her family with her knowledge, but also the many many 4th graders she had the opportunity to teach at Kershaw Elementary in Sugar City school district for 10 years.

Carolyn had so many talents and interests.  She was an avid gardener who loved beautifying her yard with her flowers and feeding her family with the abundance from the large family garden planted every year.  Teaching her children to "work and play well with others" and to be "productive members of society" were a top priority in all she did.  Preserving food was a skill she shared with her children and also with many other women who learned at her hand.  Carolyn was a remarkable seamstress.  Not only did she sew all of her children's clothes when they were young, but she sewed for the Ricks College dance team and made many wedding and prom dresses over the years.  If an article of clothing did not fit nor flatter, she could work her magic and make it look as if it was made perfectly for you.  She spent many a Mother's Day, and Valentines Day's arranging flowers at Morris Floral.  Her children have many memories of hours spent playing around and under the hundreds of quilts she made over the years.  She truly was the ultimate "Homemaker".

Following retirement in 1998, she and Lee served missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at Martin's Cove and Heber Valley Camp.  The friends they made there were ones they continued to cherish until the end.   She served faithfully and touched the hearts of many in church callings  held throughout her life.

In her own words "I have enjoyed being a Mother in Zion.  Each of my children have such different talents, goals and occupations. Each has added a different dimension to our family.  I look back over the past 42 years and I don't know how I survived and others times the years fall away and it seems that it was just yesterday that I was a young bride; (only I know a lot more or maybe wisdom is a better word,)  I know that my Redeemer lives.  I am thankful that he chose to come to earth and die for me.  My favorite scripture is "I have no greater joy than to hear my children walk in truth" 3 John 1:4

The family will receive friends from 5:30-7:00 pm on February 14th 2025 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Park Street Chapel, 700 Park Street, Rexburg, Idaho.  Funeral services will be the following day February 15th, 2025 at 3:00 pm at the above location.

As a family we want to express our gratitude to the staff and caregivers at the Homestead Living Center and the Homestead Home Health and Hospice.  Thank you for caring for and loving our sweet momma!

Service will be broadcasted at: https://my.gather.app/remember/carolyn-gifford-2025