Mary Lou Carroll (Lulu) 1929 - 2020

CARROLL, HEATH, FOLSOM

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 11/5/2020 at 17:43:54

Onawa Democrat
23 September 2020

Mary Lou Carroll (Lulu)
September 10, 1929 – September 16, 2020

Mary Lou Carroll, 91, of Pleasant Grove, Utah, passed away on September 16, 2020. Born September 10, 1929 in Onawa, Iowa, she is the first child of the late Everett Earl Folsom and Ruth Margarete (Heath) Folsom of Onawa, Iowa. Mary Lou was married on October 22, 1947, in Onawa, Iowa to her high school sweetheart and husband of twenty years, Gail Edward Carroll of Castana, Iowa. They raised their family in Southern California, where Gail later built a home on his days off from the Los Angeles Fire Department. Gail passed away from cancer in 1968 at age forty-one. In his final days, he told Mary Lou, “I wouldn’t change one day of our life together.”

In 1994, Lulu, as she was affectionately known, moved from her home in Chatsworth, California to be near her two sons in Utah. She lived in Orem until May 2016, when she moved to The Charleston Assisted Living in Cedar Hills and finally to Welcome Home Assisted Living of American Fork. When selling her Orem home, Mother considered the memory or story behind every cherished possession and who she should give it to, a child, grandchild, or a neighbor. She examined every document in every file folder, and every crocheted hanger in every closet. Lulu took many loads of clothes and personal items to the Charleston to give to her friends. Soon, the entire female population of the Charleston seemed to be wearing the red and purple colors of the Red Hatters. Giving away her treasured belongings was a labor of love that took Mother sixteen months.

Lulu was a very friendly and sociable person and loved to spend time with family and friends. Through the years, she served as a Cub Scout leader, president of the Emelita Street School PTA, and president of her adult sorority, Beta Alpha Iota. With her two sons, Ron and Craig, she owned a business called “LuLu’s” that manufactured and sold framed art and gift products to chain stores throughout the United States. In later years, Mother served as the Queen of the Orem, Utah chapter of Red-Hatters, and at age ninety-one, she was president of the Residents Council at Welcome Home Assisted Living. Lulu organized family reunions, anniversary parties, birthday parties, and Christmas gatherings. She always tried to bring people together, and to keep the family close. We are grateful for her many kind deeds and her generous nature. With family, friends, and church members, she quietly reached out to relieve the burdens of people who were struggling. Mother had a compassionate heart for the "wounded bird" that needed tender, loving care.

Mary Lou was a strong and independent woman with an iron will. She endured much hardship and misfortune, but remarked, “I’ve had a full life with no regrets.” Mother lost her faithful husband and companion, Gail, during his prime. In January 1994, the big earthquake in California demolished her house.

Lulu had four hip replacements, with slow and painful recoveries. From several bad falls in recent years, she broke her wrist, shoulder, elbow, and pelvic bone. Twice she had stints to open blocked arteries to her heart but still suffered a mild stroke and a heart attack. Mother also had irreparable intestinal bleeding, which caused her to have blood transfusions regularly for the past five years. She lived most of her life with diabetes and the daily routine of insulin injections. As the years passed, Lulu consented to use a walker but refused a wheelchair. She was a fighter to the end, and even then, she held on a little longer.

At age 85, after a stroke and several months recuperating from a broken pelvic bone, followed by internal bleeding the doctors could not find, I took Mother out for dinner. Walking to the car, she mentioned that her knee was bothering her a bit. Frail, bent over, and taking baby steps with her hand in mine, she declared, "If it wasn't for my bum knee, I'd be in perfect shape." Through it all, Lulu kept going, with great courage, without complaint, bearing all things with patience and perseverance.

Mary Lou spent much of her adult life compiling family history/genealogy documents and information. In a period spanning four decades, she worked nearly full-time and created twenty-two thick binders of her family and ancestors on the Folsom and Carroll lines. Each binder included hundreds of pages of pictures, letters, newspaper clippings, birth, death, and marriage certificates, and anything she could find about the individuals and families—quite an achievement without the Internet and electronic aids we have today. It was a life adventure for her, including personal travel to faraway places. Once she found four important gravestones in the middle of an Iowa cornfield. Another time she spent two days in town copying rare information given her by a distant relative; the woman passed away the day after Lulu completed her work.

A few years ago, Candice Slack’s husband, Rich, made a multi-part video of Mother sharing the stories of her life (see video links on this website). In one segment, Lulu described herself as being addicted to genealogy work. Her labor to compile family history information for more than forty years is nothing short of amazing.

Mary Lou has happily entered the warm embrace of her Savior, Jesus Christ. She attended the Evangelical Free Church (now Centerpoint Church) in Orem and later the “Community Presbyterian Church in American Fork.” Mother leaves behind many friends of faith.

Like the woman in the crowd who touched the garment of the Savior to be healed, I think Jesus would say to Mother, "Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole... (Luke 8:48). Now Lulu is free of her worn-out body. She lives in a better place with full health and surrounded by those she loves. How joyful she must be.

We are all grateful for Mary Lou Carroll. Her life mattered to many people who love her and will truly miss her.

Mother left behind two sons, Ron (Marlene) and Craig Carroll whose wife, Robin, preceded mother in death two months earlier. At age ninety-one, Lulu continued to say she was still raising her boys (Ha!).

Grandma Lulu is also survived by twelve grandchildren Angela (Timothy) Aguilar, Tiffany (Jared) Sanderson, Nicole (Robert) Mustain, Brian (Rebecca) Carroll, David Carroll, Amanda (Ryan) Best, and Brittany (Christopher) Thompson, Dustin (Katy) Carroll, Julie Carroll, Sherisa (Bill) Snoddy, Candice (Richard) Slack, and Bryce (Joeli) Carroll, all of Central Utah. Surviving siblings include one brother, Leo Folsom of Paducah, Kentucky, and one sister, Inagene Bonanno of Woodland Hills, California. Another sister, Wanda (Robert) Hime of Fountain Valley, California, preceded Mary Lou in death. Mother leaves behind forty-six great grandchildren, and five great-great grandchildren.

Graveside services will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, September 19, 2020 at the Orem City Cemetery where Mary Lou will be laid to rest alongside her beloved husband Gail.

Mother spent her final days at Welcome Home Assisted Living of American Fork where she had many friends. We express our heart-felt gratitude to the medical professionals and caring staff who watched over her.

In lieu of flowers, please express your sympathy by donating to a favorite charity. Friends and relatives are invited to share memories or stories on the “Tribute Wall” or upload favorite photos of, or with, Lulu. She loved you all and will see you again on the other side.

Monona Obituaries maintained by Linda Ziemann.
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