Carolyn Allman

Carolyn Forsey Allman passed away peacefully at 10:30 PM surrounded by her family on Thursday, October 5, 2017.  Earlier in the week she had said she had a date with her husband on Friday and she needed to be ready.  Her husband, Samuel Allman Jr. had passed five days earlier, Saturday, September 30, 2017.  Together, their 74-year marriage and love affair were celebrated on the date she was determined to keep.  They were sweethearts in life and in death and continue to be in the hereafter.   Funeral services were held Friday, October 6, 2017, at 2 p.m. at the Foxhill Ward Chapel, (200 S. Eagle Ridge Drive, North Salt Lake City, UT). 

She is survived by her siblings: Richard Forsey, Norma Kratzer and Garry Forsey; her five children, Samuel D. Allman, S. Craig Allman, Curtis B. Allman, Jerry T. Allman and Pamela Allman Newbold; her son-in-law, Dan Newbold: her daughters-in-law, Jessie, Cindy, Alison and Gale; and thirty-four grandchildren, eighty-three great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren.

Carolyn Forsey was born in Eureka, Utah to George W. and Pearl F. Forsey on the 24th of September 1923.  She was the second daughter and third child of six children; three boys and three girls.

To her, growing up in Eureka was special.  If one were familiar with Eureka, one might question how that was possible. Eureka was a mining town situated ninety miles Southwest of Salt Lake City at an elevation of 6,500 feet. There were virtually no lawns or gardens and very few trees; summers were short. Cleaning the yard consisted of using a rake to move the gravel around. To remind or convince his family that Eureka was a desirable place to reside, her father continually reminded them that there usually wasn’t a day that would pass that the sun didn’t come out for at least a few minutes. Because of the shortage of water, Eureka was never plagued with mosquitos. She spent her summer evenings playing “Run Sheepie Run,” “Hide and Seek,” and “Kick the Can.”

Her father was the entrepreneur of Eureka. He owned the movie theater, a bottling plant, an appliance store, the local Dodge dealership and he manufactured ice cream. Carolyn worked in the movie theater and dipped vanilla ice cream bars into chocolate as soon as she was old enough.

During the early years of high school, she met Sam Allman from Mammoth, Utah, another mining community three miles away. Carolyn said all the girls liked Sam because he was so handsome.  They dated off and on through high school.

She graduated from Tintic High School and went to BYU for a couple of years. She moved to San Diego because World War II had started; she wanted to do her part for the war effort so she got a job assembling B-24 bombers. She was one of the many “Rosie the Riveter’s”. That’s where Sam and Carolyn reconnected. Their romance blossomed until they fell in love and decided to marry. Actually, Sam claimed Carolyn followed him to San Diego and twisted his arm until, he said, “Yes.”

Sam was now in the US Navy. He received a week pass, so he and Carolyn could   return to Utah to be married.  They were sealed for time  and  all eternity on September 22, 1943 in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. That was the start of a seventy-four year love affair!

Shortly, after the war, they moved to Los Angeles where they were able to buy a home as part of the benefits that were offered to returning veterans. Carolyn stayed home to care for the children while Sam many times worked two full-time jobs to make ends meet. Once their children were in school, Carolyn began helping Sam with his flooring and drapery business. Eventually, she was doing all the estimates for the drapery side of the business and helping with the installation of draperies.  

Longing for home, they returned to Utah after living twenty-five years in Southern California.  In 1986 they were called to serve in the LDS Sydney, Australia Temple Mission. They loved serving there and fell in love with the Australian people. They have returned several times to see the many friends they have there. In 1990, they served as Family History missionaries to London England South Mission. They spent their time microfilming the Queen’s World War I Military Records. The buildings in which these records were housed had been bombed during World War II. The records were partly burned or mildewed. During the last six months of their mission they microfilmed the 1881 British Census. Their experience in London was the same as Sydney. They fell in love with the British people and with the country. They returned several times. Because of their experience in London, they were called to serve as Family History Missionaries working at the Joseph Smith Building in Salt Lake City to finish what they had started in London on the 1881 British Census. They had the ability to read the records where missionaries who had not been to London, could not cipher the records.

A week before Sam passed away, they celebrated their seventy-fourth anniversary. Even in the last few years of his life, he was calling her “ma” and his “tomata.” He was so proud to tell people that Carolyn had been his sweetheart for over seventy years. They could still be seen holding hands in church or at family gatherings. There love sustained each other’s lives through several episodes of poor health. After his colon cancer surgery, Sam was fading fast. As soon has he was transferred to the assisted living facility to be with Carolyn his health turned around and he flourished significantly. By the way, beside telling Sam he worked too much, Carolyn could be heard telling him what he needed to do. “Go to sleep!”  “Quit going up and down in your chair!”  We all need someone who loves us to point out how we can improve. As Sam always said, “The secret of a happy marriage is to learn two magic words, “Yes, dear.”

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the LDS Missionary Fund OR Utah Honor Flight (PO Box 42 Richfield, Utah 84701)