Carol Butler Ford (age 67) beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt, and friend, passed away unexpectedly from complications following a heart attack while on a girls trip in Alaska on August 19th, 2024.

Carol was born on March 23rd 1957, to parents J. Lee and Diane Butler. She was raised in Spanish Fork, UT and spent her life loving and serving in that community. She attended schools there as a girl and graduated from Spanish Fork High School.

She met the love of her life, Doug Ford, and was married on June 20th, 1974. For over 50 years they built a beautiful life and were by one another’s sides through everything.

Together they raised four children, Brian, Leslie, Brad, and Mike. Being a mother to them was the joy of her life. She spent countless hours as a mother caring for them and being involved in whatever the kids’ interests were, from softball to hunting to rodeo to trapshooting.

Doug and Carol were a team in family and in business. Together they started Hickory Kist and eventually Mountain Country Foods. Their employees are considered family, and they’ve made it their mission to take care of those who work so hard for their company. They recently celebrated 50 years in business and their 50th wedding anniversary with all their employees in Hawaii.

Carol had a heart as big as the Alaska that she loved, and everyone was welcomed in. She connected deeply with people, getting to the heart and soul of a person. Her love looked like action and hard work, always reminding us that the way we spend our time really does matter.

Carol loved the outdoors and the mountains. Her favorite places in the world were her cabin in Birdseye and her cabin in Talkeetna, Alaska.

Carol loved the community of Spanish Fork and looked for ways to be involved and to serve, participating in many projects that have blessed so many lives.

She believed in and loved education, giving hours of her time to Nebo School District volunteering in schools with her kids, serving in the offices of Spanish Fork High and being involved in projects on a district level.

She worked closely with the Chamber of Commerce and volunteered at the Spanish Fork Gun Club, and contributed to many other events and organizations.

She was an Honorary Colonel for the Utah County Sheriff’s Office, always passionate about supporting the local police force.

She loved the Fiesta Days Rodeo and the Demolition Derby. Carol and Doug worked closely with rodeo officials to help support the event. Their legacy lives on as members of the Fiesta Days Rodeo Hall of Fame.

She was a renowned and award-winning quilter. She was a member of the Maple Mountain Quilt Guild and the Utah Valley Quilt Guild and served on the board and as president of both over the years. She won countless ribbons, including winning at the Springville Museum of Art multiple times.

She loved to spend time with her family – Sunday dinners, extended family gatherings, going out to lunch, being in the mountains together, fishing on the rivers of Alaska or waiting for the kids to come back from a hunt with a hot meal and listening ear.

More than anything, Carol loved being a grandmother. She was found at baseball games and soccer fields, school events and birthday parties. She was always there to support and to cheer. It’s hard to find a photo of Carol without a grandchild on her lap. Her grandkids knew that Grandma always had a loving heart for them no matter what.

Carol is survived by her loving husband Doug, her children Brian Ford, Leslie (Robert) Hight, Mike (Alyssa) Ford and her daughter-in-law Tahsha (Kyle) Wilson. Her siblings Randy (Donna) Butler, Kay (Earl) Hansen, Laura (Brent) Taylor, & Brent Butler, along with her in-laws Pam (Steve) Wright, Kimmie (Rick) Aller, & Russ (Amy) Ford. As well as her 19 beloved grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren along with numerous nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents, J. Lee and Diane Butler, in-laws Garth and Margie Ford and her beloved son Brad, with whom she is surely having the sweetest reunion.

The viewings will be held on Monday, August 26th from 6-8pm, and Tuesday August 27th from 9-10am at Walker Funeral Home (187 S Main Street Spanish Fork).

A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, August 27th at 11am at the Spanish Fork Fairgrounds Rodeo Arena. (475 S. Main Street, Spanish Fork).

Interment will be held at the Spanish Fork City Cemetery (420 S 400 E Spanish Fork).

The Ford family would like to thank all the medical staff in Alaska for the exceptional care she received while she was there. We also extend heartfelt gratitude for the love and support of our family during this time. In lieu of flowers, we ask that you go spend time with your family and look for ways to make a difference wherever you are. For Carol.

The funeral service will be streamed live. Please return to Carol's memorial page shortly before 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 27, 2024, and click on the link below.

Livestream Link