Karen Jolley

Karen Hunt Jolley, age 87, passed peacefully from this mortal existence into the eternities on Friday, March 7, 2025. She was born on January 21, 1938 in Enterprise, Utah to Amos Hunt and Naomi Barnum Hunt. She came into a family of five boys and an older sister.

She married Charles Larry Jolley on September 28, 1957 in the St. George, Utah temple. Their union was blessed with five children; Steven Charles, Larry Wayne, Patrice, Kathryn, and Bradley Ben.

Karen grew up in Enterprise and was intensely proud of that heritage. As the youngest child, she naturally fought with all five of her older cowboy brothers, but each one of them were her very best friends and would fiercely defend and protect their little sister even if they did pester her mercilessly. Her older sister was like a second mom, and was the perfect balance for the exploits of five cowboy brothers.

She attended Enterprise High School and was one of the 13 graduates of the Class of 1957. Go Wolves! She attended Dixie College and it was there that she met and fell in love with a lanky, wavy haired boy from Dog Town who would become her husband.

Karen learned the value of hard work from her parents who were simple, "salt of the earth" people. Recipes that were born in that little Enterprise kitchen were etched in her mind, and continue to live on to this day through her posterity.

She worked as a waitress at the famous "Big Hand Café" in St. George and also worked in various secretarial positions. However, her legacy was established in her 30 years as a front office secretary at Washington Elementary School. She knew and remembered the names of the faculty, staff, and especially the hundreds of students that passed through those doors, and became the "school mom" to many of them.

Her family was her hobby and her passion. She was a constant at the various ballgames, programs, recitals, and anything else that her children were involved in. She was also a source of steady support to her husband in his work, church, and community service.

She had a deep love of music, and music was a big part of her life, whether singing in choirs or leading choirs and congregations in song.

Karen had a deep rooted and firm testimony of her Savior Jesus Christ and served faithfully in many callings and capacities in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including a mission to the St. George, Utah member locator mission.

She is survived by her children Steven Charles (Sydnee) of Ivins, Utah, Larry Wayne (Kimberly) of Coeur d' Alene, Idaho, Patrice (Cory) Lytle of Reno, Nevada, Kathryn (Jim) Snyder of Washington, Utah, Francis and Bradley Ben (Christy) of Hurricane, Utah, and one sister in law, Joann Hunt of Hurricane, Utah. She was blessed with 19 grandchildren and 49 that called her "grandma great".

Preceding her in death were her sweetheart Larry whose absence created a void of almost 27 years, her parents, Amos and Naomi Hunt, siblings Wanda Huntsman (Leland), LeGrand (Carol), Clawson (Polly), Leonard, Larry, and Wendall Hunt, father and mother-in-law, Ben and Florence Jolley, sister in law, Colleen Haycock (Clair), and a great grandson, Tanner Jeffrey Jolley.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 S Bluff Street, St George, Utah. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 22 at 11:00 am at the chapel on 700 East Telegraph Street in Washington, Utah. There will be a viewing the evening before, on Friday, March 21 from 5:00 - 7:00 pm at Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 S Bluff Street, St. George, and again the morning of the service from 9:00 - 10:30 am at the chapel.  Interment will follow the service in the Washington City Cemetery.

The family wishes to extend heartfelt gratitude to the dedicated and caring staff at Spring Gardens assisted living facility, the dialysis center, hospice, and Chris, Rolaina, and Easton Wilson for their tender and loving care to mom in her hour of need.

Condolences and Memories can be shared with the family on Karen's obituary online at www.Spilsburymortuary.com