Carvel Howe Eliason

Carvel Howe Eliason was born on July 10, 1950 in Santa Ana, California to Max Vivian Eliason and Marjorie Howe Eliason. His parents moved back and forth between Utah and California, before settling in Anaheim, California. Carvel was the third of seven children.

Carvel was raised in Anaheim, not far from Disneyland, which opened a week after his fifth birthday. He was an intelligent child with an excellent memory and a love for learning and reading. He also loved playing games with his siblings and cousins. After being selected for a gifted education program, he attended John Marshall Elementary. At a young age, he became known for his public speaking skills, which he used throughout his life as a missionary, an attorney, and at church. Carvel learned how to play the piano and later the organ. As a youth, he was an Eagle Scout and attended the National Boy Scout Jamboree in Valley Forge in 1964 and the World Scout Jamboree in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho in 1967. In high school, he took up surfing with his friends, often getting up early on Saturday mornings and heading to the beach. He graduated from Anaheim High School and then enrolled as a student at Brigham Young University.

From 1969-1971, he served a full-time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the Great Australia West Mission. During his mission, he served as assistant to the mission president, who once wrote to Carvel’s parents that he was “running the mission.” He then returned to BYU and graduated with a B.S. in Business Management in 1974. While a student at BYU, he met Meredith Lee Roane. The two wed in the Salt Lake Temple on October 3, 1974. They would have seven children together and were happily married for 48 years. Carvel was a loyal and reliable husband who always provided for his family.

After completing his undergrad and marrying Meredith, the new couple moved to San Diego where Carvel worked as a stock broker during the day and attended Western State College of Law at night. For his final year of law school, Carvel transferred to another branch of the same school in Orange County and brought his new family back to where he had grown up. After passing the California bar exam, he then joined the District Attorney’s office where his father had previously worked. Carvel worked for the District Attorney’s office for 28 years before retiring in 2005. In his work, he successfully prosecuted many cases against perpetrators of welfare fraud, domestic violence, and other crimes. Carvel and Meredith lived in Anaheim for several years, before settling in Yorba Linda. After retiring, Carvel moved with his family to Orem, Utah where he lived until his passing.

As an adult, Carvel took advantage of what southern California had to offer just as he had as a child. He continued surfing and his go-to spot was Doheny beach in Dana Point. He would often take some of his children along early on Saturday mornings and they would play on the beach and in the tidepools while he caught some waves on his longboard. Many people were surprised to learn that Carvel was a surfer, because he didn’t match the stereotype when he put on a suit to go to church or work, but his family and closest friends knew it was one of his favorite things to do. Carvel also loved Disneyland and took his family there on many occasions, sometimes buying annual passes for his wife and children depending on their schedules.

As great as California is, Carvel didn’t spend all of his time there even after he moved back. He loved traveling and taking his family on vacations. They traveled throughout the United States and into Canada as well. His wife and children have fond memories of places he took them on vacation across North America. Carvel loved American history and Church history and many trips included historic sites.

Carvel was a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He definitely lived up to President David O. McKay’s motto of “Every member a missionary.” In addition to the mission he served in Australia when he was a young man, Carvel served three more missions as an adult with his wife Meredith. As a couple, they served in the Brazil Belo Horizonte East, Australia Adelaide, and New York Utica missions between 2008 and 2014. Carvel studied Portuguese before going to Brazil and he delighted in serving a second mission in Australia. But Carvel didn’t stop being a missionary when he wasn’t on a mission. In his later years, he also served with Meredith at the Missionary Training Center in Provo for four years. He was famous for inviting people to attend church, challenging people to read the Book of Mormon, and testifying of the First Vision. He raised all of his children in the Church and taught them the Gospel. Carvel served in many callings, including, unsurprisingly, as Ward Mission Leader as well as Assistant Stake Executive Secretary, Ward Executive Secretary, Ward Organist, Sunday School teacher, and others. Carvel also taught a religion class at BYU for one semester. He also loved reading the Scriptures and he memorized many passages. Carvel loved the Hymns and often said, "All of the Hymns are spiritual and beautiful." Throughout his illness he partook of the Sacrament, but in his very last week, he was not able to swallow, so Meredith pressed the Sacrament to his lips. This act showed that he was faithful to the very end and that his disease did not cause him to waver in his faith.

Carvel was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in 2018. He declined over the course of several years, eventually requiring the use of a wheelchair. His family is grateful that he remained mentally sharp and never lost his ability to speak or use his hands until the very end. When asked how he was doing, he often replied cheerfully, “Happy to be here!” On April 13, 2023, Carvel passed away peacefully in his home in Orem holding his wife’s hand while surrounded by family members.

Carvel was preceded in death by his father and mother as well as his brother Gordon Howe Eliason and sister Maxine Eliason Beck. Carvel is survived by his loving wife, Meredith Roane Eliason; sister, Mildred Kunz (Dwight) of Anaheim, CA; brother-in-law, Kenneth Eugene Beck of Yorba Linda, CA; sister Eileen Hansen (Kim) of Rogers, AR; sister Cheryl Kenworthy (Allan) of Sherman, TX; sister-in-law Johanna Eliason of Saratoga Springs, UT; and brother Bruce Howe Eliason (Rocann) of Draper, UT. Carvel is also survived by his seven children: Emily Eliason of Orem, UT; Heather Lee (Jared) of Buena Vista, VA; Eric Eliason of Provo, UT; Leah Johnson (Ryan) of Orem, UT; Ashley Nelson (Craig) of Little Elm, TX; Brent Eliason (Laura) of Orem, UT; and Ryan Eliason (Linh) of Queen Creek, AZ. Carvel and Meredith have 21 grandchildren.

A short graveside service will be held on April 28, 2023 at 10 am at Murray City Cemetery in Murray, UT followed by a celebration of life the same day at 1 pm at the 1405 N Main Street chapel in Orem, UT. Arrangements are being handled by Jenkins-Soffe in South Jordan, UT.

The Celebration of Life at 1:00 PM will be broadcast live via Zoom. A link for the broadcast can be found directly after the "Send Flowers" section of this memorial page.