Marla Ray Erickson Carlisle Obituary (1938 - 2020)

TO VIEW FUNERAL WEBCAST CLICK LINK BELOW. BROADCAST BEGINS AT 10:45 AM. View Funeral Webcast Marla Ray Erickson Carlisle, 82, of Salt Lake City, Utah passed through the veil into the loving arms of her eternal companion, Allen Darrell “Joe” Carlisle on Thursday, November 5, 2020. Marla Ray was born August 13, 1938 in Salt Lake City to Raymond and Margaret Erickson. Marla Ray graduated from East High School. She married her sweetheart, Joe on January 11, 1957 in Salt Lake City; they were later sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on January 11, 1967. Marla Ray and Joe were blessed with 5 children. Marla Ray was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She served willingly in many different callings throughout the years from primary teacher, Relief Society President, to teaching Temple Preparation classes with her dear husband. She especially loved helping newly called missionaries prepare to enter the Temple. Marla Ray and Joe served a mission to the Denmark Copenhagen Mission serving entirely in Iceland. They loved caring for the missionaries and the people of that country. Marla Ray had a passion for Family History. While living in West Berlin, Germany, she and her parents were able to travel to Sweden seeking out the records of their Swedish ancestors. She felt the call of Elijah to seek out her ancestors even more so in her later years, continuing with that desire until she passed on. She loved being able to provide family members with names to take to the temple. It is safe to say that she loved her family, both living and deceased immensely. She cherished her membership in The Daughters of the Utah Pioneers. Marla Ray had a compassionate, generous, caring heart. She was quick to observe those in need and to quickly and quietly help them. She opened her home to any and all. Most Sunday dinners included widows, military members far from home, or friends. She was a wonderful cook and baker. She loved coming up with themed dinners and activities for her empty nesters group. She volunteered with the American Red Cross. She loved all sorts of crafting, but especially loved sewing. She made most of her daughters’ clothes. She also willingly made costumes for any who asked for her help. She loved quilting and made each grandchild a special baby blanket. She used her sewing skills to make hundreds of pillowcases which she donated to The Christmas Box House for children. She also loved to knit and crochet. Many an afghan was made and given as gifts. As her children started to leave home, she got a job working as a receptionist at a medical center. She would take the bus to and from work. She enjoyed meeting new people and creating friendships. During high school, she made friends with several young women. They maintained that friendship throughout her lifetime. Every month they would meet up to have lunch and catch up with each other. She willingly moved to many locations because of Joe’s military career. She lived in Utah, Colorado, Kentucky, North Carolina, Kansas, Virginia, and Germany. Her desire with each move was to unpack and make their house a home. Love could be felt there by all who entered. She loved games, crossword puzzles, and jigsaw puzzles. She had a fondness for her garden. She created a secret garden for her grandchildren to enjoy with special surprises throughout the yard. Her garden included a maple tree that was quickly given the name Marla Maple. She also loved feeding birds. She would set peanuts on the railing of her deck and watch delightedly as a scrub jay would swoop in and snatch the peanut. She loved sitting on her deck and looking out at the great wonders of the world. She loved music. She sang in the ward choir. Marla Ray loved listening to her grandchildren sing and play the piano. One of her favorite hymns is Each Life That Touches Ours for Good. Paraphrasing that hymn: “When such a “mother” from us departs, We hold forever in our hearts. A sweet and hallowed memory, Bringing us nearer, Lord, to thee.” She was preceded in death by her parents, Raymond Ellsworth and Margaret Searle Erickson, and her brother-in-law Dean Sedgwick. She is survived by her brother Milton Erickson (Jean) and sister Susan Sedgwick, her children Karen Spjut (Erik), Kevin Carlisle (Lori), Christine Smith (Steve), Kenneth Carlisle (Malia), and Cathleen Grimm (Aaron). She is also survived by 26 grandchildren and 39 great grandchildren. Private family services will be held on Wednesday, November 11, 2020 at 11:00 am and can be viewed live at www.jenkins-soffe.com. A special thank you to the staff at Ashford Assisted Living Center in Draper, Utah for the care they gave to our sweet mother.