Carol Lyn Hoggard, age 75, passed away peacefully on July 5 due to failing health.
She was born on March 4, 1944, in Bakersfield, California, to Eugene and Patty Gear. She grew up in various parts of California. Hoggard attended Northern Arizona University where she met the love of her life, Wesley Hoggard. They were married on July 16, 1966.
They moved to Moab where she began teaching elementary school. Hoggard taught first grade for most of her career, first in Moab, then in the Salt Lake valley. She was dedicated to her students and touched many young lives. Even after a serious car accident in 1990 left her with double vision and weakness on one side, she continued to teach for several years.
After retirement she and Wesley moved back to Moab, but she was not ready to rest. Hoggard made a full-time job of volunteering: for Moab Solutions, CNS Hospice, Grand County Hospice, RSVP, Grand Area Mentoring, Red Rock Elementary (tutoring students in reading and helping in the school library), Seekhaven Family Crisis and Resource Center and the Moab Arts Festival. She even won awards for her dedication to her volunteer work, including the AARP Andrus Award for Community Service and the Silver Bowl award for Grand County. She and Wesley also traveled extensively in their motor home.
Hoggard loved gardening, knitting, tole painting, bird watching, reading, doing puzzles, traveling, camping, spending time with family and friends, and watching live theater. She was a cat lover as well, rescuing pets from the humane society or taking them in when their owners passed away. She was a member of Community of Grace Presbyterian Church in Sandy, the Community Church of Moab and The Bridge Church in South Jordan.
She is survived by her brother Hadley Gear; son Dan Hoggard; daughter Patti (Paul) Hendricks; stepson Dale Hoggard; stepson David (Trina) Hoggard; and stepdaughter Jeana (Cecil) Place; 13 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and many good friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Eugene and Patty Gear, and her husband Wesley.
A memorial service will be held on Monday, July 22, at 11 a.m. at the Community Church of Moab, 544 MiVida Dr. in Moab. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to one of her favorite charities: humane society, Grand Area Mentoring or Moab Solutions.
