Afton Loveless Carlson Smith

Afton Loveless Carlson Smith, 100, passed away January 13, 2025 surrounded by her family.

Afton was born on January 2, 1925 in Payson, Utah to Martin Hill and Theressa Loveless. Afton graduated from Payson High School then traveled to New Jersey to be trained in Optical Precision to support the war effort. She received additional training in Oakland, California. She was a graduate of the Pandora Beauty School and became a hair stylist. Afton met and fell in love with John Everel Carlson, professionally known as “Carl” when he was a guest artist at her beauty school. They were married September 15, 1948, in the Salt Lake Temple. Carl and Afton are the parents of 5 children. They lived in Bountiful and the Salt Lake area. John Everel passed away in 1970. Afton continued to raise her 5 children as a single mother supporting them by managing Carl’s Beauty Salon for many years. She was an excellent businesswoman.

Nine years later in 1979, Afton married Harold Smith. They shared 31 wonderful years together enjoying family, friends, and serving the Savior. Afton was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Afton and Harold were the project managers for the Taiwan Temple dedicated in 1984. In their years together, they served three missions; The Mormon Battalion Visitors Center, an Inner-City Mission in Salt Lake City, and back to the Taiwan Temple. They served as Temple workers in the Salt Lake Temple for many years. She had a strong testimony of the gospel and love for her Savior. Afton always met life’s challenges head on. She weathered adversity with grace and faith. Harold passed away in February of 2009.

Afton loved traveling with family and friends. She loved to dance. She always had a beautiful well-manicured yard. She spent many hours planting flowers and making things beautiful. She loved to sew, creating many quilts and creative projects. Afton was very kind, loving and generous. She taught her children, through words and example, to work hard and be strong. She taught them to love, accept and serve others. She loved her children deeply and always tried to serve them.

On January 4, 2025, she was able to see many of her family at her small 100th birthday celebration at the home of her daughter and son-in-law, Cindy and Dean Barney.

She is preceded in death by her son, Kent E. Carlson.

She is survived by her sister Patricia Krueger, SLC; her two sons, Douglas Carlson Midway, UT; Brad Carlson (Sandy) Firestone, CO; her two daughters, Jill Empey (David) Mesquite, NV; and Cindy Barney (Dean) Layton, UT; 12 grandchildren and 35 great-grandchildren.

Services will be held January 18, 2025, at the Memorial Holladay-Cottonwood Mortuary, 4670 South, Highland Drive, Holladay, Utah, with a viewing from 1 p.m.-1:45 p.m. The funeral service will begin at 2 p.m. Interment will be at the Memorial Holladay Cemetery, 4900 South Memory Lane, Holladay, Utah.