Monika L. Carter

In Loving Memory

Monika Lorraine (Bates) Carter age 52 was joyously born on August 23rd, 1959 in Salt Lake City, Utah and peacefully passed away the morning of September 14th, 2011 at her home in West Jordan, Utah after a 30 month courageous battle with brain cancer.

Monika the precious daughter of L. Gordon Bates and the late Hildegard (Duessler) Bates was the fourth of five children. She grew up in Farmington, Utah and graduated from Davis High School in Kaysville, Utah. She was a member of the D-ettes Drill Team and graduated with High Honors. She was one of two girls picked by her graduating class to receive a scholarship and model for ZCMI. She was a recipient of a full scholarship to Brigham Young University (BYU). Since she was a proficient seamstress, BYU created a full time position for her as a costume designer and seamstress in the BYU Theatre and Costume Department under the esteemed Carma de Jong Anderson daughter of the late Gerrit de Jong, Jr. founder of the BYU College of Fine Arts. She designed and produced many of the historical clothing used in various LDS Visitor Centers such as Carthage, Illinois and Cove Fort, Utah. She received her Bachelor's degree at BYU in Family and Human Development.

Truthfully, there are not words in the human language to adequately describe her glorious, valiant Christ like character. Her life was full of numerous good deeds and everyone that knew her instantly loved her. She constantly radiated love, happiness, goodness and peace in all she did. Her life was totally dedicated to her God, family, friends and associates. Her total disregard for self was evident in the service she rendered to others and in all her actions and words. She had a pure, unconditional love for the many people that knew and loved her. Monika would do anything at any time for anyone. Her dedication to her numerous Church callings were exemplary and she was a living testimony of the truths of the gospel of Christ as restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith. Monika's most distinguishing feature was her stunning inward and outward beauty and her beautiful, glowing, penetrating smile. Her genuine smile would quickly edify the soul and thoroughly melt the heart of the receiver! She was always a window to the Savior's love.

Monika was an extremely talented Senior Graphics Designer for Cephalon Pharmaceutical located in Salt Lake City, Utah for the last 14 years. She enjoyed her job and co-workers immensely. One of her greatest joys in her life was her service as a LDS temple worker in the Oquirrh Mountain Temple during this last year.

Monika is survived by her eternally devoted husband, Michael J. Carter, of West Jordan; four daughters: BreeAnna D. (Todd) Laub, Lauren A. (Todd) Mortenson, Sarah E. (Todd)Bagley and Jessika R. Todd; one son: Elder Levi B. Todd (presently serving in the Jacksonville Florida Mission); five step-daughters: Belinda J. (Carter) Sniteman, Melinda B. (Carter) Probst, Charity D. (Carter) Lovelace, Mariita Carter and Emily Carter; one grandchild: Danielle Laub; one step-grandson: Aiden Probst; two brothers and sister- in-laws: Brian and Yolanda (Mendiola) Bates (4 children, Nikki, Daniel, Samuel, Timothy), Kevin and Lisa (Vaughan) Bates (2 children, Rachel, Emily); two sisters and brother-in-laws: Barbara (Bates) and Sherman Olmstead (4 children, Nadia, Hugh, Sherman III, Erynlea), Holly (Bates) and Douglas Cobabe (5 children, Adam, Andrew, Alyssa, Alexander, Aimee); four Son-in-Laws Travis Laub, Donovan Bagley; Don Lovelace and Clay Sniteman.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, September 21, 2011 at 12:00 Noon at the Prairie 6th Ward, 5154 West 7000 South, where family and close friends can visit Tuesday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 pm and Wednesday morning from 10:00 to 11:30 am prior to the service. Interment at the Orem City Cemetery. Messages and tributes to the family can be posted at: www.holbrookmortuary.com