Karla Jean Nielson Jettie

Karla Jean Nielson Jettie (79), beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, passed away peacefully at her home in Taylorsville, Utah, surrounded by her adoring family on December 5, 2022 after a graceful fight with Dementia. Born in Salt Lake City on November 23, 1943 to Stanley and NaDine Nielson, Karla ("with a K") was a darling baby with curly red hair and chubby cheeks, who was adored by her three older sisters. Raised in Sugarhouse, Utah, Karla attended Whittier Elementary School, Lincoln Junior High and South High School. Following her high school education, she worked as a seamstress, and in the pharmaceuticals and hospitality industries. Years later, she would forge her entrepreneurial skills, founding a children’s daycare business, a photography studio, and ultimately, Bearcat Tax Service. What she considered her life's most important work, however, was that of loving wife and mother. Karla married Raymond Jettie on June 21, 1975 and their marriage was later solemnized in the Salt Lake Temple. She was the mother of six children: four daughters and two sons. As a wife, she was “sensational” - loving, patient, giving, self-sacrificing, optimistic and willing. As a mother, she was kind, caring, patient, nurturing, selfless, supportive, intuitive, hard-working and loyal. And as a grandmother, she was sweet, generous, fun, spunky, and devoted. There was nothing she loved more than spending time with her family or having a pool full of them. She dedicated her entire life to her family, and they have been eternally shaped and blessed by her steadfast, gentle love. She was so very proud of each and every one of them. Weighing all of 110 pounds (soaking wet), Karla was small, but mighty. The world has never seen a more strong-willed woman. Her determination, combined with her never-failing allegiance to integrity and goodness, made her a formidable force for good. She was meticulous in her devotion to what was right and did nothing unless she did it 110%. Ever the “Energizer Bunny,” she could never sit still and was never happy unless she was working toward or bettering something. And she was never afraid to get her hands dirty. She raised six kids, dug out a basement (by hand) at 8 months pregnant, and even clear into her seventies, could always be found working with her husband or kids on a DIY construction project of some kind; sheet rocking, sanding, painting, roofing, or digging sprinkling systems - always in her signature flip flops. Karla lived a modest life. Despite her many good works, she never wanted praise or credit or attention of any kind. She was a wise steward over her resources and was as scrappy as they come, always producing incredible results even under extreme constraints. She was mild and humble and ever the peacemaker within her circles but would come roaring to life in defense of those who were wronged or treated unjustly. She was bright, quick-witted and funny and loved ice cream, flip flops (owned over 30 pair), walks with Ray, yard work, and listening to Christmas music year-round. Karla was also extremely talented. She was endlessly creative and artistic, and her children lovingly remember the Christmas scenes she would paint on her large picture windows every December. She was crafty and could make anything out of paper, fabric, wood, a sewing machine and a good set of paints. Her children had the most original clothes at school because they were all hand-made by her – right down to their backpacks. She loved to bake and always had treats waiting for them when they arrived home from school (her chocolate sauce and cinnamon rolls were most adored). Second only to her role as a wife and mother, Karla was a humanitarian. Her charitable giving could never be measured (mostly because she never let anyone know). She gave to others in countless ways over the years, but her favorite way was through quilting. She loved to quilt from a young age and loved gifting those quilts to those she loved, but when she heard that there were infant babies being wrapped in newspaper in poverty-stricken countries, she found her life’s mission. She began making quilts, which she delivered to the homeless, Primary Children’s Hospital, Shriner’s Hospital, The Salvation Army, and any worthy international destination she could find. One of her children’s’ greatest joys was watching her tour the NICU in Saipan, seeing each and every incubator lined with one of her hand-made quilts. Over the years, she made and sent off thousands and thousands of them, refusing any offer of recognition and planting the seed of charity in each of her children’s’ hearts through her unfailing example. She also founded a group of friends (“The Lunch Bunch”) which performed many acts of service for those in her community. Karla was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints all of her life. She gave much service in the church, most notably as Young Women President and as Compassionate Service Leader. She had a very strong testimony and her faith informed every choice she made. She never wavered in her conviction, devotion and obedience to its principles. She was a very spiritual person and loved and served her Father in Heaven tirelessly. Karla is survived by her husband, Raymond Jettie, her children, Sonya (Wayne) Crouch, Kyle (Rick) Jettie, Amy (Kevin) Hanson, Julie (Chris) Steadman, Jill Jettie and Justin (Alicia) Jettie, 17 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, two sisters (Kathy Gardner, Barbara Fenton), a brother (Daniel Nielson) and one sister-in-law (Peggy Tingley). She was preceded in death by her father (Stanley G. Nielson), her mother (NaDine Nielson), and sister (Maureen Boorsma). A viewing will be held from 10:00-11:30 am on Saturday, December 10, 2022 at the Taylorsville 13th Ward building (1495 W. Tamarack Road, Taylorsville 84123). A funeral will follow at 12:00 pm, followed directly by interment at Murray City Cemetery. We invite all who have received a quilt from Karla over the years to bring it to the funeral and drape it on the pew behind them.

Karla Jean Nielson Jettie

November 23, 1943 - December 5, 2022