Earlene Cox Carey

Earlene Cox Carey, 74, passed away at her home in Thermopolis, Wyo. on September 1, 2015, surrounded by her family.

On July 06, 1941, Earlene was born to Earl Gividen and Mable Taylor in Thermopolis, Hot Springs, Wyo., in a little shanty not far from the river. Her father had deserted her mother, her sister Laura, who was 4 years older, and Earlene at this time. Mable and the two girls moved to Lovell, Wyo. Here Mable met Basil "Brig" Cox. They married and "Brig" was always Earlene's dad after that. Earlene and Laura were sealed to "Brig" and her mother in the Salt Lake Temple. "Brig", being a carpenter, was involved with lumber and construction and was for several years involved with building LDS meetinghouses. One of these was the Thermopolis Ward meetinghouse and this is where Don, her husband, met Earlene.

After their marriage in the Logan Utah Temple on the 30th of September 1959, they made their home in Thermopolis. At the age of 12 or there about, Earlene suffered some health problems in which the doctor informed her mother that she would need surgery that would take away her possibility of having children. Earlene's mother was opposed to that. She did not have the operation. After Earlene and Don were married the doctor's observation was proven not correct. Eight children were born in the space of 14 years, 5 boys and 3 girls. They came faster than the paycheck increased to accommodate them we thought, but Earlene and Don were blessed. First was Dean Gerald, second was Carlene Mae, third was Mark Edward, fourth was Calvin Wayne, fifth was Craig Albert, sixth was Cheryl Gay, seventh was Joyce Ann, and eighth was Aaron Justin. For 30 years, Earlene drove school bus and when she retired she was transporting children of the students she transported when she first started. In this manner she became acquainted with many students and parents.

Her final active days were mostly spent in planting flowers of which she was passionate about and communicating with her family with a motherly love and kindness.

She is survived by her husband, Donald Edward Carey; sons, Calvin, Craig, and Aaron; daughters, Carlene, Cheryl, and Joyce; brother, Seth (Tamara) Cox; sisters, Laura (Ted) Bryant, Virginia (Brad) Nelson, Terry (Jared) Hepworth and Nancy Brown; 24 grandchildren; and 3 great-grandchildren.

Earlene is preceded by sons, Dean and Mark; her parents; and brother Kenneth Cox.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 5th, 2015, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Thermopolis, Wyo., with Bishop Chris Paris officiating. Burial will follow at 2:00 p.m. at the Mount View Cemetery in Basin, Wyo. Online condolences may be made at http://www.bryantfuneralhome.com.