Dr. Carl Richard Saunders

Dr. Carl Richard Saunders

1928-2009

Dr. Carl Richard Saunders completed a wonderful life on Father''s Day June 21, 2009 when he passed away at the age of 80 after a brief valiant battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his family at his home and was re-united with his family and friends. Carl was a great Father, Grandfather and Great Grandfather. Carl was born in Ogden, Utah October 24, 1928 as the 8th of 12 children of Edward T. Saunders and Marcia Ann Slater. Carl grew up in Ogden, Utah. He loved his parents and siblings. He started life with a case of meningitis but recovered quickly without medicine when his mother did not feel right about the prescription. Her intuition proved correct. He loved to work on the family farm with his father and brothers and with them at Saunders Construction.

Carl attended Ogden High School and graduated in 1946. Carl lived a life of service. He served an LDS mission to New Zealand from 1947-1950. He loved the Maori people and at his 80th birthday party, he could still perform a flawless Haiku dance and speak fluent Maori. He married his sweetheart, Bonnie Rae McCarrel on November 10, 1950 in the Salt Lake Temple after returning from his mission. Carl and Bonnie were blessed with 6 wonderful children, even with the significant health challenges Bonnie experienced from childhood pneumonia. Carl attended to Bonnie''s every need during her life until she passed away in 1975.

Carl attended Weber State College and the University Of Nebraska School Of Dentistry, graduating in 1958 and then returned to Ogden where he set up his dental practice and worked with his brother Darrell and later his son Richard. He was an encyclopedia of great stories, jokes and harmonica songs-which he shared with everyone, even those in the dental chair. Like his Father, Commissioner Edward T. Saunders, Carl served his neighbors in local and state government. He was a City Council Member in Plain City and served as their State Legislative Representative for 4 years and he served as President of the Plain City Lions Club.

As a widower with 6 children, Carl married Deon on January 2, 1976. Deon has been a great blessing to Carl and the family. Carl and Deon have been married for 33 years and together they have served two missions in Guatemala and Ecuador/Bolivia, worked tirelessly in local and state political endeavors and traveled to many wonderful places. Carl was a State Legislator for 3 more terms from South Ogden and in 2002 he received a special honor and recognition from the Utah State Legislature for his lifetime commitment to his country for his military, legislative and community service focused on Education, Health Care and Law Enforcement issues. The Utah Hospital and Health Association and the Utah Public Health Association each presented him with Distinguished and Special Recognition Awards for his legislative service to the citizens of Utah. Carl was instrumental in orchestrating Legislative support for the Huntsman Cancer Institute. He received a Distinguished Citizen Award from the Utah Dental Association in 2003. Carl is a veteran of the Korean War where he served as an Army counter intelligence specialist. Carl loved America and served his country and his neighbors and his Heavenly Father with all of his soul.

Carl served as Bishop of the Ogden 63rd Ward, High Councilor, Ward Mission Leader, Counselor, and Scoutmaster and as a Temple worker for over 48 years. He was a wonderful Dad who loved his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He loved everyone and everyone that knew him felt his genuine love. He enjoyed the game of golf, horse shoes and was always ready to sing with his siblings and their spouses who were renowned for their family choir.

He is survived by his wife Deon and her daughter Michelle Parkinson (Hans) and his six children, Richard Saunders (Sue), Cynthia Israelsen (Ned), Teri Hunt (Bertley), Mark Saunders (Sheila), Susan Gardner (Jeff), Nancy Wolthuis (Curtis), and 31 grandchildren and 26 great grandchildren. Carl had a wonderful love and relationship with all of his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He is also survived by many of his siblings and their spouses, Anna Easthope (Clarence), Lawrence Saunders (Alice), Marie Bingham Saunders, Leland Saunders (Leila), Marva May Elggren (John), Ilene Smith (Lyneer), Lou Jean Wiggins (Lorin), Glen Saunders (Marvetta), Darrell Saunders (Arlene), and Marcia Lindsay (David). He was preceded in death by his Parents, Edward and Marcia, his wife Bonnie and his brothers Edward Saunders (Erma) and Marvin Saunders:

The family would like to thank the Doctors, Nurses and staff of the various Medical providers for the love, compassionate service and care they provided to Carl over the last few weeks of his life.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, June 25, 2009 11 a.m. at the Meadows Ward Chapel 5855 S. Skyline Drive Ogden, Utah. Friends and family may call at the Lindquist''s Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Blvd Wednesday from 6 to 8 pm and at the Ward building Thursday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. prior to the funeral services.

Interment will be at the Ogden City Cemetery.