Carolyn (Schade) Bacon, (91), Carl’s devoted wife of seventy-three years and loving mother, grandmother and a faithful servant in her church and community whose kindness touched countless lives, passed away three days later in their home. Carolyn possessed a brilliant intellect, memory and a quick wit. Carl & Carolyn were both born and raised in Hollywood, California. They knew each other since kindergarten, often being referred to as “two kids from Hollywood.” Both graduated from Hollywood High School and later from Brigham Young University.

The couple’s deep faith was a constant compass. Though Carl had long desired to serve a full time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Korean War altered plans for many young men at the time. As a result, Carl and Carolyn married in the St. George, Utah LDS Temple in 1953. Carl’s changed married status presented the couple with the unexpected opportunity to serve a mission. Carolyn tearfully watched from the Los Angeles train platform as Carl departed for Toronto, Canada. When Carl return from service two years later, Carolyn was there to greet him, this time holding their toddler son. Carl and Carolyn spent the following ten years in Granada Hills, California, adding Sherry, Tammy, and John to the family. Their family moved to Provo, Utah, in 1966. In the next few years they welcomed Christy, Ken, and Jana to their growing family. There, Carl began his long career with BYU’s Development Department where he played a major role in the expansion of the LaVell Edwards Stadium. Service to others describes the core characteristic of this couple throughout their lives. Carl served with America’s Freedom Festival at Provo for over thirty-five years, including two terms as its president. He has also chaired events and committees and served as a member of the board of trustees and as executive director and senior executive producer of Stadium of Fire. This remarkable event is the result of Carl’s vision. Carolyn was entrenched with the women’s organization, Utah/California Women, where she served a year as the president and many years on the UCW board.

Carl and Carolyn’s greatest service was centered in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Their lives were filled with shared devotion in dedicated service as callings came — bishop in California, branch president and bishop at BYU, mission president of the Canada Toronto Mission, stake president, Area Authority Seventy, and Provo Temple president. Carolyn served in presidencies and as a capable teacher and was beside Carl in every calling, faithfully supporting him and at his side as mission leader in Toronto and matron in the Provo Temple. Carolyn had a gift for speaking, and because of her photographic memory, rarely used notes. Carl loved music and singing with his family. Bobby Engemann of The Lettermen was Carl’s best friend and together they sang and recorded. Carl was always producing the next big production and his attention to detail was extraordinary.

Carolyn was an excellent cook, an avid reader, and a wonderful mother and example. She encouraged education and the use of proper English with her children. Carolyn loved the theater, visual arts and looked for any opportunity to attend the Shakespearean Festival, Broadway musicals, and local entertainment. She herself had a dramatic flare. She exuded a joyful spontaneity that inspired those around her, was always mastering a complex jigsaw or crossword puzzle, and searched for chocolate in any form. If there was water, she loved to swim in it.

Members of the Cougar Club since 1966, the couple spent over six decades cheering from the stands and supporting BYU athletics. The two were always up for a game of pickleball, joining their children’s family activities, going out to eat or on a last-minute vacation. They had a passion for traveling the world-especially Europe.

The Bacon’s lives were full of purpose, unwavering devotion and peaceful joy. Just as Carl once boarded a train bound for his mission while young Carolyn watched from the LA platform, last Tuesday he went ahead once more, but this time to welcomed her at the covenant path’s ultimate destination platform. As always, together.

Carl and Carolyn are survived by children; C. William Bacon, Sherry Christensen (William), Tammy Johnson (Curtis), John Bacon (Becky), Christy Boots (Dennis), Kenneth Bacon, Jana Lindsay (Steve), thirty-nine grandchildren and fifty-three great grandchildren. They were preceded in death by Samuel K. and Dorothy Paul Bacon, Marlon F. and Luetta Nell Jackson Schade (parents), Kenneth Bacon (brother), Sharon Richey (sister), Christopher Christensen (grandson), Shanna Christensen (granddaughter), Lennon Johnson (granddaughter) and Christine Pyper Bacon (daughter-in-law).

Combined funeral services will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints building at 303 W. 3700 N., Provo, Utah, 84604 on May 16, 2026, at 12:00 noon. A viewing will take place prior to the service at 10:00 to 11:45 a.m. Interment at East Lawn Memorial Hills Cemetery in Provo, Utah – 4800 E. Lawn Dr., Provo, Utah 84604 following the funeral services.