Sharanne Trinette Carr Mitchell

In the first week of April 2024, Sharanne Trinette Carr Mitchell went on one last epic road trip to see the third solar eclipse of her life. On the banks of an Arkansas lake, she and her family watched in awe as the moon passed over the sun. Two days later, Sharanne unexpectedly passed away in El Paso, Texas, casting her own quiet shadow over the hearts of her family and friends.

Sharanne Trinette was born in 1948 to loving parents, Elmo Marion and Ellen Lamont Carr. As the youngest of six children, she inherited a love of travel and dance from her parents, as well as an intense faith that would sustain her throughout her life. She also inherited their generous and warm-hearted natures, able to view almost any new friend or stranger as a potential enlargement to her vast family. Descended from proud Scots, she was always glad of a chance to wear her Lamont tartan and was interested in everything Scottish. 

In childhood, Sharanne traveled to many places in Europe and Southeastern Asia, including France, Germany, the Netherlands, Thailand, and Singapore. However, one of her favorite countries, the second home of her heart, was Hamilton, New Zealand, where she served an LDS mission for two years. She instilled in her children a respect for Aotearoa and Māori culture. She also loved many national parks, including Yosemite where she celebrated most of her early birthdays. 
 
 Sharanne was a bit of a weird nerd from the get-go. She described herself as a lifelong Trekkie but preferred Mr. Spock to Captain Kirk. She read when she could, a trait she would pass on to her future offspring. She could count in binary and in her college years she programmed computers using punch cards. Her educational journey took her from Cal State Hayward to Ricks College, ID, to BYU in Utah. She graduated with an Associates in Math, a Bachelors in dance, and a Master’s in Education.

At BYU, she met a young man, Jeffrey Mitchell, whose nerdy weirdness matched hers in many ways. In 1976, dear reader, she married him, for time and all eternity in the Provo Temple, and subsequently produced five equally nerdy weird children. Any humility she had for herself pretty much vanished in the wake of extolling the talents of her offspring, as she was sure they were all the best, most artistic, readingest, nerdy children ever. Proud weird nerds. She passed on a love of science and museums, of art and literature, of education and the wideness of the world. She coached her kids through countless spelling bees, Knowledge Bowls, German competitions and science fairs, making sure that learning was fun for them. 

Her inventiveness extended to crafting side quests for her children to make chore time more exciting. Equally, she applied great creativity to cooking, crocheting, and crafting. She always had a stash of extra art supplies and notebooks, ready to go for birthdays and unexpected school projects, and she also had a ready supply of new small kitchen gadgets tucked away in case she got invited to a wedding and needed a gift. Sharanne believed in being prepared. 

Sharanne volunteered with the Girl Scouts and helped her three daughters sell thousands of cookies. She also raised two Scouts, including one Eagle Scout, and was proud of her children for achieving merit in scouting programs. She also stressed the importance of education and was pleased to see her children excel at university (one son even graduating magna cum laude) or in their careers. 

As a lifelong member of the LDS church, one could find her reading and studying her Book of Mormon in the wee hours of the morning. She also volunteered and worked occasionally at various temples. Her beliefs were of paramount importance to her, but just as strong as her faith was her commitment to her family. She hoped to gather her family for her fiftieth anniversary and often stated that she just wanted to get a full family photograph. 

As her children grew, she worked outside the home, sometimes as a substitute teacher, sometimes as a cafeteria worker, sometimes in retail. She was excited to take on her most recent job, as a docent at the Thanksgiving Point Butterfly House, and all of her children encouraged her to go for it, as it would make equal use of her love of science and her love of people.

Towards the end of her life, she suffered from various health issues, but always made time for her nine grandchildren. She loved them all so much and was a proud Grandmumley. 

Sharanne was preceded in death by her parents, Elmo and Ellen Carr; her sister, Mary Ellen; and her brothers, Lamont and Walter Alanzo. She is survived by her husband, Jeffrey Mitchell; her daughters, Elizabeth Mitchell (John Sheffield), Mary Monson (Michael), Rachel Hunt; her sons, Paul Mitchell (Gwendolyn), and John Walter Mitchell; her nine grandchildren: Celeste, Sam, Allister, Rayvin, Ruth, Sariah, Jacob, James, and Miles; her sister, Janelle Stanger (Ron), and her brother, Wallace (Dianne). 
 
 Funeral services will be held at 12 Noon, April 20, 2024, at the Northridge 14th Ward chapel at 1875 North 280 West, Orem, UT 84057. Prior to the funeral, there will be a viewing from 10:30 to 11:30 for friends and family to pay their respects. If mourners have their own family tartan and wish to wear it, the family would regard it as a mark of respect for Sharanne’s family heritage. 
 
 Interment to follow at Lindon City Cemetery.

Instead of flower arrangements, Sharanne would want folks to donate to the Primary Children’s Medical Center. 

 For those unable to attend the services, they will streamed starting at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 20th,via Facebook Live at the following link: https://fb.watch/rzLnz__16E/