Carma Summerhays

1939 - 2021

Carma (Smith) Summerhays, age 82, passed away with her loving husband by her side. She died of illness incident to age at her home in Draper, Utah, on Saturday, August 21, 2021, at 8:30 a.m. Carma was born May 26, 1939, in Salt Lake City, Utah, the daughter of Joseph Matt Smith and Blodwin (Thomas) Smith.

Carma was a firm believer in God and Jesus Christ and was baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at age eight. She grew up in the Salt Lake City area and attended Olympus High School. Carma married her high school sweetheart, Dennis Clare Summerhays, on July 30, 1955, and together they recently celebrated 66 delightful years of marriage. Carma's love for her husband and devotion to him and their marriage was her greatest joy, priority, and a great inspiration to their children. Together they had four children, twelve grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren. Carma loved her children and grandchildren so very much and was proud of all of their accomplishments. As a young mother, Carma joined in family activities playing tennis, water skiing, snow skiing, and ice skating on the homemade rink. As a family, they spent many week-long trips at Lake Powell, making wonderful memories. She camped and fished even though she didn't particularly like fishing. Carma was an excellent cook whose love of cooking and great food was the inspiration for two restaurants. As the world's most devoted ironer, she and her husband always sported pressed clothing. Carma had an exquisite sense of clothing style and dressed perfectly for every occasion. Her home also shows her touch of elegant decorating. Carma had a great love of country and cherished our freedom. Patriotic songs echoed through her house, and flags adorned her yard every Fourth of July. She was an accomplished vocalist and pianist. Carma played by ear and had perfect pitch. In her youth, as a pianist, she had the opportunity, on a few occasions, to accompany the youth symphony in Salt Lake City under the direction of Maurice Abravanel.

After raising their children, Carma and Dennis joined the Hidden Valley Country Club as lifetime members and enjoyed golfing, making friends, and creating cherished memories. In 1993, Carma was president of the Ladies' Golf Association at Hidden Valley. While many golfers never make a hole in one, Carma achieved four. Carma and Dennis mastered greenhouse gardening, growing thousands of vegetables, herbs, and flowers.

Carma and Denny loved to travel the western U.S. and spent many winters in Hawaii. They enjoyed similar interests such as music, architecture, sampling new foods, and cooking together. Mostly, they enjoyed and loved each other. Theirs was a storybook love that continues beyond Carma's mortal life. Dennis, her adoring and devoted husband, dedicated his life to loving and caring for Carma. He was the sweetest caregiver, attending to her every need.

In addition to her parents, Joe and Blodwin, Carma was preceded in death by her stepmother Ruby (Leak) Smith, Salt Lake City, and grandson, John Charles Haddock, Missoula, Montana.

Surviving Carma is her high-school sweetheart and husband Dennis Clare Summerhays, Draper, Utah; brother Joseph LaMont Smith and wife Caroline, Murray; son Dennis Lane Summerhays and Karen Summerhays, Salt Lake City; daughter Pam (Summerhays) Hampton and husband Scott, Kaysville; son Neil Britt Summerhays and wife Laurie, Draper; son Brad Mark Summerhays and fiancé Amy Neuberger, Sandy; granddaughter Jessica Price and husband Mark, Salt Lake City; grandson, Devin Douglas Summerhays and wife Kara, Salt Lake City; granddaughter Gabriella Samantha Summerhays, Salt Lake City; granddaughter Samantha Jade Summerhays, Salt Lake City; granddaughter Ashley Jean (Hampton) and husband William Buckley Bailey, Park City; grandson Tyler Dean Hampton, Cottonwood Heights; granddaughter Brooke Elle (Hampton) and husband, Matthew Fortin, Kaysville; granddaughter Julia Savannah Hampton, Orem; granddaughter Laura (Haddock) Harsh, husband Jamie, Murray; grandson Kevin Thomas Smith and wife Tracy, Herriman; and granddaughter Ashley (Smith) Street and husband Jerry, Eagle Mountain, and ten great-grandchildren.

Graveside services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 28, 2021, at Larkin Sunset Gardens Cemetery, 1950 E. Dimple Dell Road in Sandy, Utah. A viewing will be held Friday evening, August 27, 2021 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., as well as Saturday prior to the services beginning at 9:30 a.m. at the Larkin Sunset Gardens Mortuary.

Condolences may be shared at www.larkincares.com.