Carma Butler Crosby

Carma Butler Crosby passed from this life, Thursday, June 22, 2023 at her home in Mesa. She was born May 18, 1927 in Springerville Arizona. She had an older sister who died shortly after birth and grew up as the only living child of her parents, Russell Burgess Butler and Edna Hamblin.  

Carma went to elementary school in Springerville and graduated as valedictorian from Round Valley High School, where she was also head majorette for the marching band. She later moved with her parents to Phoenix, where her father continued to work as a mechanic for the US Forest Service.

She married Harris Crosby in the Mesa Arizona Temple on May 12, 1950.  They had 4 children, 17 grandchildren and at last count, 38 great grandchildren. Carma took care of her father-in-law, her mother-in-law and her own mother for over 6 years as they aged. She and her husband served for over ten years as temple workers in the Mesa Temple.

Carma enjoyed playing the piano and organ. She and Thayla Hall often played Pomp and Circumstance together for high school graduation ceremonies. In her younger years, she worked as a soda jerk for Western Drug in Springerville. She learned shorthand in high school. After moving to Phoenix, she worked as a member of the stenographer staff for the Arizona Senate.  When they lived in Eagar, she took dictation and typed many patriarchal blessings for Stake patriarch Tillman Turley.

Carma always liked to watch reruns of old TV westerns, partly because she loved horses. Her grandfather Willard Hamblin raised horses in Nutrioso and she grew to appreciate fine animals. She loved a good horse race and she looked forward to watching the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness and the Belmont.

Carma enjoyed having people around and appreciated visits from family and friends. She was always concerned about others comfort and would rather do things for them than have them do things for her. She never lost her sense of humor.

A memorial service will be held Thursday, July 6, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at the Sherwood Park Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 940 East Southern Ave,  Mesa. Graveside services will be held Friday, July 7, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at the Eagar Cemetery, Eagar.

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