Caroline Rose Bowyer Atherton

Caroline Rose (Bowyer) Atherton, our loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, peacefully continued her eternal progression, graduating from mortality on Friday, October 16, 2026, at her home in West Valley City, Utah.

She was born to Gilbert Leroy “Jack” Bowyer and Helen Rose Hildebrand on June 10, 1943, in Abilene, Kansas. The oldest and only girl of three children, she grew up in Abilene, Indiana, and Garden City, Kansas. Throughout her life, she was plagued by English speakers mispronouncing her name: though spelled Caroline in the traditional German way (pronounced "Carolyn"), English readers often mispronounced it as "Care-oh-line."

She married Dennis Earl Atherton on February 7, 1962, in Garden City, Kansas, and they were later sealed in the Idaho Falls Temple on July 5, 1967. Together, Dennis and Caroline welcomed six children into their home—four daughters and two sons. They raised their family in Garden City, Kansas, and Mesa, Arizona, before finally settling in West Valley City, Utah. Caroline loved being a mother above all else and found immense joy in her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Caroline was exceptionally talented, excelling in the home arts and sharing a lifelong love for crafting. She was a skilled seamstress, cook, and baker, who also excelled at needlework, crocheting, painting, food preservation, and making homemade candy. She used these rich talents not only to support and nurture her family, but to continuously bless the lives of those around her.

Caroline was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She held a deep love for her Savior, Jesus Christ, and possessed a strong testimony of His atoning sacrifice and restored gospel. Her temple covenants brought her great peace during life’s trials. While she served in many callings throughout her life, her absolute favorite was serving as an ordinance worker in the Mesa Arizona and Jordan River Utah temples.

She is survived by her children: Ricky (Mia) Atherton, Aaron Atherton, Marcy (Jon) Albritton, and Sarah Atherton, and son-in-laws: Daniel Moland and Scott Simon; 14 grandchildren, 10 grandchildren-in-law, and 19 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Dennis Atherton; daughters, Denise Moland and Hope Simon; great-granddaughter, Harper Sekavec; and great-grandson, Mathew Sekavec; her parents; and brothers, Gilbert and Dwight Bowyer.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, October 23, 2026, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meetinghouse located at 5180 West 4700 South, West Valley City, Utah. Viewings will be held at the same location on Thursday, October 22, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, and on Friday prior to the service from 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM. For those unable to attend in person, the funeral service will be broadcast via YouTube https://www.youtube.com/live/xxgHKqUFeV4.

Following the funeral, she will be interred at Memorial Redwood Cemetery, located at 6500 South Redwood Road, West Jordan, Utah.

In addition, the family invites you to share your favorite memories, stories, and photos of Caroline by emailing them to rollingalongat69@gmail.com.