Carol Ann Devers
Carol Ann Devers passed away February 8, 2022 at her Richwood home, surrounded by family.
Carol was born January 10, 1943 in Ogden, Utah to Franklin Neal Murdock and Velma Payne Murdock. She was the oldest and only daughter, having two brothers, Frank Murdock and Richard Murdock. They and their families currently reside in Salt Lake City, Utah.
She loved her faith, her family, America, nature, and animals.
She was a lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She found great comfort in her knowledge and love of the Savior. She held many callings in the church throughout her life but enjoyed teaching the most, especially younger children. She often carried out random acts of kindness and through that example, taught her children of the importance of serving others.
She is survived by her husband of 43 years, Dan Devers. Together they raised six children Doug (Phoebe) Rothey of Littleton, CO; Melanie (Gary) Hammons of Richwood; Lisa (Ken) Striblen of Richwood; Julia (Ryan) Hanson of Mountain Green, UT; Michael (Dalia) Rothey of Dallas, TX; and Kelly Devers Bacon of Richwood. They have 19 grandchildren, 7 great- grandchildren (with four more to arrive this year). She taught her children the value of hard work through her example and strong work ethic in many jobs from running a successful pet store to retiring from the Ohio Reformatory for Women all while raising a family of six. She taught the value of perseverance through hardships and especially through athletics. Playing and watching sports were a big part of family life. From traveling the west with her son’s travel hockey team to watching eight of her grandchildren play sports and participate in the arts at North Union Schools to watching the Buckeyes, the Reds, the Golden State Warriors, and countless others; she loved to cheer on her favorites.
Carol had a great sense of patriotism and community. She lived in nine states throughout her life. She graduated from Garden City High School in New York and attended Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. She loved to travel throughout the United States and was able to visit 47 in her lifetime. She was a great road tripper. Often driving across the country with family to visit national parks or to greet new additions to the family or simply exploring the state of Ohio with her husband as he traveled about for work. Many times, on her journeys, she’d happen to pick up a new pet or two. She loved the Richwood community she became a part of in 1988 after leaving Utah to be closer to her husband’s family. She loved their 37-acre farm and the ability to surround herself with lots of animals. She was a proud supporter of North Union Athletics and the Boosters. She enjoyed attending events to watch her grandchildren but also loved the support of the community and enjoyed meeting others to cheer with and visit with.
Carol grew up in a family without pets though she loved animals dearly. Once she married and started her own family, she quickly added a dog or two, a cat or two and maybe a fish or two. Years later, when she met a handsome, young owner of a pet shop who loved animals as well and was willing to take on an immediate family, she was complete. Together, they ran a successful pet store for many years. She traveled to local schools putting on shows teaching about a variety of animals including an eight-foot python, tarantulas, ferrets, talking parrots and more. With his shared love for animals, the next 43 years were spent raising, caring for and enjoying a large assortment of pets from domestic to exotic and unusual. She loved her little “Funny Farm” and enjoyed spending time there with the animals and in the woods in their family campground with carved trails each named for members of her family.
She loved to sew and to tie quilts. She made most of her own clothing and her daughter’s dresses early on; even whipped up a ten-minute swimsuit once so her daughters could go swimming. She was a voracious reader of everything from the scriptures to true crime stories which fascinated her. She loved the holidays, especially Christmas and had a room dedicated to housing seven fully decorated trees and over 100 nativities year-round. She was perfectly content working on the farm but also greatly enjoyed putting on her flashy diamonds and driving her sporty Audi. She is leaving a wonderful legacy and a lifetime of cherished memories. She will be missed for her loving spirit, her sharp wit, and her wisdom. God be with you until we meet again.
A private graveside service will be held at the Claibourne Cemetery.
Memorial gifts may be made to North Union Athletic Boosters, 401 North Franklin Street, Richwood, OH 43344.
Condolences and remembrances may be expressed at www.stofcheck-ballinger.com
Stofcheck-Ballinger Funeral Home