Scott Gerald Carlson

Scott Gerald Carlson passed away Feb. 19, 2019 at the Orem Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Facility in Orem, UT. Scott was incredibly loving, caring, and compassionate. He stood for family, faith and serving others above all else. Despite battling a lifetime of mental & physical illness he did his absolute best to help raise his kids, grandkids and dutifully serve in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Scott was passionate about sports and outdoors. Some of his fondest memories involved playing football and basketball at Logan High School in Utah and spending time outdoors with his friends. Impressively, he still threw a perfect football well into his 50’s.
Despite his many struggles he loved the Savior and loved sharing his witness of Christ and serving in his church in various places and capacities, both in NY and UT. Whenever he could, he attended the temple regularly. He took great solace in reading and pondering the scriptures. During his last few years at the nursing home he was most fulfilled when spending time with family or preaching the gospel and serving others.
Most will remember Scott by his lifetime of mental & physical health issues. To the many hundreds of church members, friends, acquaintances and health care professionals that loved and cared for Scott along the way, his family is eternally grateful.
Scott was born in Ogden, Utah on Jan. 11, 1959, the fifth of seven children, to Thad August and Carroll Plowman Carlson. At the age of 2 he slipped while climbing a ladder in his Grandpa’s barn and fell, striking his head on the cement manger below suffering a severe concussion and broken collar bone. This injury and numerous subsequent injuries contributed to a lifetime battle with mental and physical disabilities. At the age of 5, he moved with his family to Logan, Utah where he grew up attending Logan City schools. He attended a year of college at USU and then served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Vancouver, Canada. Later while seeking medical treatment in Rochester NY, he met an amazing nurse, Brenda Lee Shepherd and on July 28, 1984 they were married in the Logan Temple. They raised four great children in the Rochester area who were the delight of his life: Josh, Jared, Emma, and Danny. Later, due to Scott’s many challenges, he and Brenda divorced but he remained very actively engaged in the lives of his children.
Scott is survived by his mother Carroll P. Carlson of Logan UT, siblings Jake (Kim Gygi) of Arvada CO, Kathy (Vaughn) Cook of Mapleton UT, Debi Zamora of Logan, UT, Julie (Hal) Huppi of Logan, UT, Paul (Tena Sloan) of Holladay, UT. and children: Joshua (Amber Kirley ) of Mamaroneck, NY, Jared (Shannon O’Donnell) of Springville, UT, Emma (Joe) Leatham of Clarkson NY, Daniel (Polly Boyana) of LeRoy NY, and 11 grandchildren, with one on the way.
He was preceded in death by his father, Thad A. Carlson, and his sister, Vicki Lee (Robert-still living) Bennett.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019 at 1:00 pm at the Logan 19th Ward building of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, located at 1255 North 600 East, in Logan Utah. Family and friends may visit from 11 am to 12:40 pm prior to the service at the same location. Burial will be in the Logan City Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers the family would welcome donations to NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), and those who wish to contribute may do so online at: https://donate.nami.org/give/197406/#!/donation/checkout?utm_source=HomepageButton&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=DonationTracking