Carol Devitt Thomas

Carol Devitt Thomas, 78, of American Fork, Utah, returned home to her Heavenly Father on February 13th after a life beautifully lived, deeply loved, and devoted to family and faith.

A woman of extraordinary kindness, creativity, and quiet strength, Carol touched every life she entered with warmth, laughter, and a down to earth love that made people feel seen, safe, and cared for. She had a gift for making ordinary moments feel meaningful, whether through a haircut, a meal, a sketch, or a simple but sincere conversation.

Carol was born on January 22, 1948, at the old hospital on Main Street in American Fork, Utah, to Willard and Beth Devitt. She grew up on King Street as the fourth of nine children: Sharon, Brent, Kathy, Carol, Mike, Rebecca, Russ, Clint, and Christine. Life in a bustling home full of noise, stories, and sibling adventures shaped her lifelong love of people and her natural gift for connection.

Carol graduated from American Fork High School in 1966, where she was a cheerleader, wrote her own column “Doodling With Devitt” for the school paper, and was a faithful member of the pep club. She later earned a scholarship to Continental Beauty School in Salt Lake City.

She went on to work as a hairstylist for 20 years, beginning at Erma’s Beauty Salon. In 1974, she opened her own basement salon, where countless friends, neighbors, and family members sat in her chair for far more than just a trim. They came for her jokes, her advice, her listening ear, and her knack for making everyone feel at home. Many became lifelong friends, and she was honored to do the hair of more than a few of them for the last time, treating that final act with reverence, love, and care.

Carol married Ernest (“Ernie”) Thomas in American Fork in 1966, and they were later sealed in the Provo Utah Temple in 1974. Together they built a life centered on love, hard work, faith, and family. Their marriage was a partnership of quiet devotion—years of shared sacrifice, inside jokes, late night talks, and mutual support through both ordinary days and heavy seasons. Ernie was her steady companion and protector; she was his soft place to land and his constant encourager. They faced every joy and trial side by side, including her long illness, with loyalty and tenderness.

For 35 years, Carol faced Parkinson’s disease with courage, patience, and grace. The illness changed her body, but it never dimmed her spirit, her sense of humor, or her love for others. In many ways, her long battle became one more testament to her strength: she endured with faith, dignity, and a determination to keep loving and showing up for her family as much as she possibly could.

She was the devoted mother of Angie, Jeff, Sue, Jill, Tracee, and James, and the proud grandmother of 21 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren. Nothing made her happier than a house (or backyard) full of family. She especially loved backyard wiffle ball games with her grandkids. Cheering, laughing, and pretending not to keep score while she soaked in every minute with the children she adored. Family get togethers were her favorite place to be, and she worked hard to make sure there was always room, always food, and always love for anyone who walked through the door.

Carol was the ultimate multitasker. She could balance a home, raise a family, run a business, and still find time to cook, sketch, talk, laugh, serve in her church callings, and keep everyone else in line. A sizable task, surely, but Carol took it all in stride and did so with a smile on her face and love in her heart.

A gifted artist, she often expressed her love through her sketches. One of her tender ministries was drawing portraits for families who had lost loved ones, capturing their faces with care and offering comfort in pencil and paper when words were not enough. It was another way she quietly carried others’ burdens.

A faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints, Carol lived her beliefs quietly but powerfully. She embodied Christlike love in the way she served her family, ministered to neighbors, and created a home where everyone felt welcome. She believed deeply in eternal families and lived in a way that made heaven feel close.

Carol leaves behind a legacy of compassion, humor, creativity, and devotion. Her life reminds us that the things that matter most are the people we love, the memories we make, and the kindness we show along the way. Those who knew her will carry her influence in the way they gather their families, serve quietly, laugh easily, and choose to love even when it's hard.

As we celebrate Carol's life, her funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at 11:00 AM in the American Fork 26th Ward, located at 975 North 60 East. A viewing will take place the evening prior, on Friday from 6:00 to 8:00 PM, at Anderson & Sons Mortuary, 49 East 100 North, and again on Saturday from 9:45 to 10:45 AM at the church before the services. She will find her final resting place in the American Fork Cemetery.

The family would like to give a special thanks to those who cared for her in her final days, Brook – RN, Kami - CNA, and the care providers at River Meadows Assisted Living Facility.