What a special time of year for Carrie Ellen Dart.  For several Christmases she has made something for each one of her grandchildren and then lets them pick which one they want.       Carrie was born on June 29, 1943 to George Preston and Marva Twitchell Davis.  She was the first of their children to be born in a hospital – the old Payson City Hospital.  There were six children in their family:  Betty Maureen (who died at birth), Peggy, Carrie, Preston, Carla, and Robbie.  When she was a child her family owned and lived in the old brick home on the corner of Center Street and 200 East, which at one time was the Salem City Offices and City Jail.  Carrie has lived in Salem all of her life except for eleven years while her husband was in the service, and four years in Payson before they built their home in Salem and settled here. 

            While in high school her friend asked if she would double with her on a blind date.  She said “Oh, I guess”.  Her date was Fred Stanley Dart.  The dates continued.  Fred dropped out of high school his senior year and joined the Navy.  Fred loved to learn and eventually got his GED.  For Christmas Carrie’s senior year, Fred sent her a box and told her she could not open it until he called.  When she opened it there was an engagement ring and he asked her if she would marry him.  She got approval from her parents, they were married on May 31, 1961 and five days later left for Tennessee where Fred was stationed.  While in the Navy they lived in Tennessee, Puerto Rico, New Mexico, Texas, back to Tennessee, Georgia and then home to Utah.  He served on the ship the Enterprise during the Vietnam War.  He was released because he developed glaucoma. 

            Carrie and Fred have three daughters:  Cheri Lynne (Boyce) Christensen, American Fork; Caren Rae (Gary) Dickinson, Clearfield; and Cheryl Jo (Fred) Taylor, Salem.  Cheri and Caren were both born in Puerto Rico, and Cheryl was born in New Mexico.  Carrie has 8 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.  After being released from the Navy Fred had a hard time finding a job, so Carrie went to work for Utah Sportswear in Spanish Fork.  She worked for nine years.  Fred became a CB Repairman, and he developed a Bulletin Board System for computers (like  Facebook, but before the Internet).  He eventually worked with Roen Griffiths maintaining the Channel 2 towers on the Oquirrh Mountains.  Because of his eye sight he had to quit.  He then taught people how to use computers and started the New Image Software Company with a friend from Michigan.  Carrie and Fred were able to travel to Michigan to visit this friend a couple of years before Fred passed away.  Fred passed away unexpectedly on February 19, 1997 due to an infection. 

            Carrie has been an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  She’s served as a Relief Society teacher, a Primary teacher, a Cub Scout leader and while Fred was in the military she served as a chorister.  She is currently serving in the Payson Temple.  Carrie is proud of her daughters who are continuing their education:  Cheri has gone back to school to become a paralegal; Caren is an analyst for a data litigation company; and Cheryl is retired from the Army and has gone back to school to become a nurse. 

            Carrie is very talented in making the Star Quilt.  Her grandmother Twitchell started making quilt tops to help pay the bills.  Marva, Carrie, and her sisters joined Grandma Twitchell because she had so many orders.  They did the Star and Double Wedding Ring tops.  Carrie has made quilt tops for 35 years.  She made a quilt for each of her grandchildren when they graduated from High School with one more to go.  When Fred was alive he would design different layouts for the star pattern and Carrie would make them.  Some of her quilt tops have gone to England, Australia, Canada and coast-to-coast in the U.S.  Along with quilting Carrie likes to sew, make birthday cards for her DUP group, and even written a science fiction book, “The Black Star”, and had it published.  She loves to do puzzles, collect brass items, and collects anything to do with eagles. 

            Carrie is allergic to lettuce, doesn’t like onions or chocolate!  She loves shrimp.  She used to love pizza, but she can no longer eat it.  Carrie likes the peace and quiet of Salem.  She remembers living here when there was just one LDS Ward.   

            Carrie, may you have a special Christmas season this year.

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Salem City Newsletter, Senior Spotlight, December 2016, page 3.