(January 20, 1926 – November 16, 2014)
Catherine Carter Woodbury, age 88, was reunited with the love of her life, her husband, H. Loraine Woodbury, on November 16, 2014, in St. George, Utah. Mom left this life with the full knowledge of whom she is and where she is going. She is now enjoying a glorious reunion with loved ones who have preceded her.
Mom was the first child of William and Golda Luella Bowler Carter, born on January 20, 1926. Mom grew up in the “Sand Town” area of St. George among family and dear friends. She graduated from Woodward Jr. High School and Dixie High School. After high school she and some of her friends went to California to work in the factories that were supplying our troops with airplane parts during WWII.
Upon returning to St. George, she worked at the Big Hand Café for a time. On New Year’s Eve of 1945, Mom was working the last shift before closing early for the employee’s party at the restaurant. Dad was on leave from the service and came into the restaurant with some friends just before closing. One of the gals working at the time introduced them and Mom asked Dad if he would like to attend the party with her. He walked her home after the party and the rest is history. After Dad was discharged from the Army Air Corp in April they were married on June 1, 1946. After Dad finished school at Dixie College they moved to Provo where Dad graduated with his Bachelors’ degree and went on to finish his Masters’ Degree from BYU. They lived in Vernal where Dad taught for two years. They also lived in Orem where he taught for two years. Dad was offered a job teaching at Dixie College in 1955 and the family moved back to St. George.
After our brother Bruce was in 1st grade, Mom went back to college and graduated from Dixie College with an Associate’s degree, then with a Bachelors’ degree in elementary education from Southern Utah State College. She taught one year in Hurricane and the rest of her teaching career was spent at East Elementary teaching 2nd grade. She loved her students and enjoyed teaching and her association with the other teachers and staff of East Elementary.
Her family will remember Mom as patient, kind and loving. She was always supportive of her husband and children. She was always looking for those that needed help and support and was always looking for the positive in others. The joys of Mom’s life were being a wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. She was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving in all of the organizations. She enjoyed the friendships she had, including membership of Alice Louise Reynolds Book Club and in Red Hills Reviewers.
Mom is survived by her six children: Vicky (Brad) Bowler of St. George; Brent (Beverly) Woodbury of Clovis, CA, Keven (Deslie) Woodbury of St. George; Rebecca (Kenneth) Gull of St. George; Mark (Rebecca Woodbury of St. George; and Bruce (Natalie) Woodbury of Folsom, CA; and survived by 18 grandchildren and 35 great-great grandchildren. Her brother Gary (Betty) Carter of St. George is her surviving sibling. Her parents and her sister Mary Lou Feller have preceded her in death.
Funeral Services
- Funeral Services will be held Monday, Nov. 24, at 11 a.m. at the Morningside LDS Stake Center, 881 South River Road, St. George, Utah.
- Visitations will be held Sunday, Nov. 23 from 6-8 p.m. at Metcalf Mortuary, 288 West St. George Blvd. and on Monday, Nov. 24, from 9:30-10:30 a.m., prior to services at the Stake Center.
- Interment will be in the St. George City Cemetery.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Metcalf Mortuary, telephone 435-673-4221. For condolences, full obituary, and funeral listings please visit the Metcalf Mortuary website.
Our family, including Mom, are so grateful and appreciative for the loving home and care that she had the opportunity to enjoy over the last few years of her life by Vicky and Brad. The family would also like to thank Diane from Visiting Angels and Suzanne from Rocky Mountain Hospice for the kind way they cared for our Mom.