Carla Jean Fillmore

Our sweet mother, grandmother, friend and companion Carla Jean Fillmore passed away peacefully at home Sept. 4, 2023, in Midway, UT at the age of 93. She was born to Mabel and Blaine Peterson in Idaho Falls, ID, on November 3, 1929. She spent most of her childhood in Roscoe, California. Moved to Clark, ID at age 15, where she met her future husband, Ray Tolley Fillmore. They enjoyed dancing, attending school and church activities and just being together. Ray baptized Carla a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when she was 16 years old. They graduated from Rigby H.S. together and were married the following November 1947 in the Idaho Falls Temple.
Carla was an only child and hoped to have a large family of her own one day. Her wish came true. Having 2 boys and 7 girls (identical twins to boot) was a big job. She loved being a mother. She cooked, cleaned, sewed clothes, did many loads of laundry, made bread, canned, froze and dried food to feed their big family. She and dad always had a big garden, and we spent many hours each summer working together in the garden. She did her best to teach us to be honest, good and true. We never wanted to disappoint her. She enjoyed playing games and played her last game of “Phase 10” the night before she passed.
Carla and Ray moved around quite a bit. They lived in Idaho, Montana, California, Utah, Nevada, Washington, New York, Alaska back and forth, crisscrossing over the U.S. Making new friends and having many adventures. They ended up serving a full-time mission together in Colorado after retirement, and then settled in Midway, UT living in the upstairs apartment of their oldest son Bob and his wife Loretta.
Carla crocheted a baby blanket for each grandchild when they were born and an afghan for each grandchild when they married. We often said she could crochet in her sleep. We sometimes teased her about being a “health nut” because of the many vitamins she took and insisted we take as kids. She poured over health books and magazines to find information on how to improve our health.
She was an avid reader and in the past few years she spent several evenings a week reading to Richard (her 52-year-old grandson). She loved to sing and taught her children to love music. She held many callings in the church and gave her best effort for each one. She did not like to draw attention to herself, but she did enjoy watching her children or grandchildren perform in any activity. She was proud and thought we were all amazing.
She had a deep love and testimony of the Plan of Salvation. She knew Jesus Christ was the Savior of the world and lived her life so she could live with her Heavenly parents. More than anything she wanted us to Keep God’s commandments so we could all live together one day. We will miss her very much but know we have been blessed to be in her presence. We know that families really are forever. Thank you to everyone in this community who have served and loved our family during this difficult time and previously. You have truly softened this transition. God bless you.

She is survived by her loving husband of 76 years, Ray Tolley Fillmore. Children: Carla Rae (Brian) Loertscher, Bob (Loretta) Fillmore, Sharon (Kyle) Panting, Diana (Barry) Williams, Cindy (Marty) Daybell, Laurie (Mark) Andersen, Teri (Jim) Schiess, Cheri (Tyler) Cook and Eric Fillmore
48 Grandchildren
120 Great Grandchildren and counting
19 Great, Great Grandchildren and counting
She is preceded in death by her parents, 4 grandchildren and 2 sons in law.
A funeral service will be held on Friday, September 8, 2023, at 2:00 PM at the Legacy Ward, 250 East 200 South, Midway, Utah 84049. Graveside services will be held on Saturday, September 9, 2023, at 2:00 PM at the Rigby Pioneer Cemetery, 4023 Ririe Highway, Rigby, Idaho 83442. For those unable to attend, the funeral services may be streamed by visiting: https://webcast.funeralvue.com/events/viewer/92224/hash:3C5AB27D7CB73222