Carl Lawrence Hoyal

In a bittersweet ending, our parents, LeAnn and Carl Hoyal, left this life together, on February 19th and February 21st, as they had always wished. They were seventy-three and eighty, respectively.

Our mother had always said she was going first and, with her characteristic sense of humor, often threatened Dad that she would “haunt his ghost" should he die before she did. When Carl, who already had chronic health problems, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, our mom spent anguished nights contemplating life without him. Once I wryly suggested that she might get cancer and she quite seriously pointed out how comforting that thought was. We laughed then, but last July 2023, that’s exactly what happened. She was an active 72-year-old with a gym membership and free weights by her bed when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She entered treatment with every expectation of beating it, and by all reports, she was doing just that until a chemotherapy overdose prematurely ended her cancer battle and her life. Upon witnessing this tragedy, Carl succumbed to his disease in a steep and dramatic decline, joining his wife less than 24 hours after hearing of her passing. The couple lost a baby, Sariah, in 1980, who we know they are happy to see again.

They are survived by their four children, Heather (Chris), Kerstin (James), Patrick, and Candice; as well as five grandchildren, Lydia (19), Henry (16), Porter (13), Ryan (11), and McKay (8). Carl is survived by siblings Sylvia (Ray Patterson), Ralph (Mona Lisa), Karen (Bruce Van Orden), Michael (Heidi), Stephen (Christena), and Neil (Virginia). LeAnn has one surviving brother, Perry Dye (Laurel, deceased). They are also leaving behind many nieces and nephews, all of whom they loved dearly.

Both BYU alumni, Carl and LeAnn were lovers of music, art, and literature. LeAnn was an accomplished pianist, organist, and a former professional accompanist. Carl was a great reader, a lover of history, and a storyteller. Both were active members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints but more importantly, devoted disciples of Jesus Christ and taught us that, to paraphrase one of my Dad’s favorite books, mankind is our business. They are deeply loved and will be desperately missed, but the good they did has and will continue to spread far beyond their mortal reach.

 A memorial service will be held in their honor on Saturday, March 2, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at Sundberg-Olpin Mortuary, 495 South State Street in Orem.

Condolences for the family may be expressed on this page. 

For those unable to attend the services they will be streamed starting at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 2, 2024, via Facebook Live at the following link: https://www.facebook.com/sundbergolpinfuneralhome