Carol C. George

Early Easter morning, April 5, 2026, our beloved mother, Carol Cordner George, quietly passed from this life. She was 97 years old. 

Carol was born on March 27, 1929, in Washington, D.C., to Howard B. Cordner and Clarissa Nuttall Cordner. 20 months later her sister, Maxine, joined the family. Howard was a graduate student studying horticulture at the University of Maryland. In the middle of Carol’s second-grade year, her father accepted a position teaching at Oklahoma A&M College in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Due to drought, Oklahoma was part of the Dust Bowl. Howard’s work focused on helping farmers develop crops that could succeed in those harsh conditions, earning him international recognition. 

In Stillwater, Carol enjoyed an ideal, happy childhood. Much of the Cordner family’s life centered around their church activity in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Their small branch of six to twelve families felt like family. The Cordners frequently hosted gatherings in their backyard and welcomed guests—missionaries, servicemen, students, and new faculty members—for Sunday dinners. 

Family traditions included listening to the radio on Sunday evenings while eating popcorn, especially The Jack Benny Program and One Man’s Family. Carol and her sister Maxine loved playing Monopoly, often stretching games over several weeks until their mother needed the table for some other purpose. 

Music was an important part of Carol’s life. At a young age, her mother taught her and her sister to sing “Joseph Smith’s First Prayer.” From then on, Carol and Maxine sang many duets together, their voices blending beautifully. Carol studied piano from third grade and by age 11 was accompanying church meetings. At age 16, she was called as the branch organist. 

Each August, the family returned to Utah to visit relatives in Orem. Carol cherished those times filled with cousins, canyon picnics, and close family connections that lasted throughout her life. 

At age 12, Carol experienced the impact of World War II following the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Despite wartime limitations, she thrived in high school, participating in Future Homemakers of America, chorus, drama, and the National Honor Society. She graduated as an honor student and was selected for Who’s Who at Stillwater High School.

It was always Carol’s dream to go to BYU. Her parents sacrificed to make it possible, and she supplemented this by working part-time throughout her college years while at BYU, she met her husband, Joseph George, on a blind date. They were married in the Idaho Falls Temple on June 19, 1951.

Shortly after Cyndi’s birth in Provo, they moved to Chicago, where Joe attended dental school. Living in a government housing project, they formed lasting friendships with their neighbors, the Robertsons, Vogels and Whatcott’s. Their first son, Joseph Douglas, was born there.

After Joe graduated, the family settled in Rigby, where he established his dental practice. Their family grew to include eight children: Cyndi, Joe, Richard, Kenneth, James D., Mary Beth, Ralph, and Susan.

Carol graduated from BYU in home economics with an emphasis in household administration. While she was an excellent admin and gifted in many roles—cook, teacher, gardener, and homemaker—her greatest work was raising her children. Her children agree that the title “Super Mom” describes her best. Carol served faithfully in her church, community, and family. She was patriotic, well-informed, and an engaged citizen. She loved and taught English to Spanish-speaking friends. For many years, Carol and Joe lovingly served these friends in whatever ways they could. Carol was blessed with 40 grandchildren, 83 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren. She had an abiding concern for and an untold influence on each of them. She maintained close relationships with them, sending cards and letters into the final months of her life and offering encouragement to each. 

After Joe’s passing, Carol moved to Rexburg, where she made new friends. She especially treasured her friendships with the other residents at Carlow Apartments. As health challenges increased, this necessitated a move to the home of her daughter Mary Beth in Orem, Utah where she was lovingly cared for by the Wright family until her passing. 

Carol is survived by her eight children and their spouses: Cyndi and Lyle Wakefield; Joe and Barbara George; Richard and Sally George; Ken and Rose George; James and Shaunna George; Mary Beth and Ward Wright; Ralph and Cathy George; and Susan and Craig Bell; along with her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Carl George, her sister, Maxine Price, and a sweet granddaughter, Heidi George. 

A visitation will be held Friday, April 10, at Eckersell Funeral Home in Rigby from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m., and again at 11:00 a.m. prior to the funeral service at 12:00 p.m. The service will be held at the red-brick church located at 401 West 1st South in Rigby.

Throughout her life, Carol was a shining example of selfless service. She took an interest in everyone she met. After speaking with her, you always felt noticed. She would be surprised to know what a blessing she was in the lives of so many people—especially her posterity who will miss her very much.