Carol Lee McAtee

Carol Lee Layton McAtee passed away peacefully at the Beehive House in Thatcher on Monday, February 2, 2026. Carol was a beloved wife, daughter, sister, aunt, teacher and friend. She influenced hundreds during her career as a teacher, administrator and as their Young Women's leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.. Carol Lee was born on December 18, 1946, in Safford, Arizona. She married John Cline McAtee in the Mesa Arizona Temple on October 4, 1988.

Carol is survived by: her siblings, Brenda Alder (Jim), Jay Layton (Diane), and Cindy Bryce (Ron), and 12 nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by: her husband, John; parents, Glen and Marjorie Layton; and brother-in-law, Jim Alder.

Carol graduated from Arizona State University and began her teaching career at Mesa High School. She then started her own business, Carol's Hallmark in the Mt. Graham Shopping Center. She went back to her first love teaching and taught at Thatcher High School. She later became assistant principal and retired as Principal in 2017.

Funeral services for Carol will be conducted Saturday morning, February 14, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., at the Thatcher Stake Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Bishop Marshall Palmer of the Thatcher Seventh Ward. Concluding services will follow at the Thatcher Cemetery.

The family will receive friends Friday evening, February 13, 2026, from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., at the Vining Funeral Home and Saturday morning February 14, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. until 9:45 a.m. at the Thatcher Stake Center Relief Society Room of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.