Robert Douglas Carroll, Sr.

October 9, 1931 ~ September 3, 2021

Robert Douglas Carroll, Sr. passed away suddenly on September 3, 2021.

He was born October 9, 1931 in Rifle, CO to James Carroll and Leona (Kerby) Christensen. His parents separated when he was just two years old, and his mother returned to Moab where she met and married N.S. (Butch) Christensen.

Robert attended school in Moab, graduating from Grand County High School in 1949. While in high school, Robert was a gifted athlete who’s position as quarterback on the football team helped Grand County earn team state championships.

He suffered an injury at football practice as a sophomore and the coach took advantage of the opportunity, spending hours at the gym working on Robert’s basketball skills. Later that year he went on to be the number one basketball scorer in the State of Utah.

He later attended Carbon College and BYU where he also played football.

Robert coached his younger brother’s baseball team, and they returned State Champions. He continued to help coach his kids and grandkids to excel in all they set out to accomplish.

He married the love of his life and high school sweetheart, Vee Williams, in 1950 and they returned to Moab from Provo to raise their family.

Robert worked in the lab at the Atlas Minerals Uranium Mill. He also worked as a surveyor and helped survey the road into Arches National Park.

The Carroll family owned and operated Carroll’s Archery which became a big part of their family. Archery tournaments were their family vacations, and archery hunting trips became a way of life for the Carroll family.

In his spare time, on weekends and after work, Robert would head out to the hills with his boys to stake claims for uranium exploration.

Other business ventures include C&H Mining, a uranium mining partnership with the Bill Harrison family, and Carroll Brothers Drilling, a uranium exploration company that in the early 1980s moved the drill rigs to Kansas for oil and gas exploration.

The archery business was sold, and the Carroll family bought a working ranch in Paradox, CO where Robert began the work he truly loved and enjoyed until the time of his death, real estate development. Robert and Vee later moved to Monticello, UT.

His many hobbies included hunting and fishing, coin collecting, sports (watching in his later years), car restoration, aircraft and flying (which he was passionate about), and cultivating lifelong friendships. He loved people and never met a stranger.

These are the words of his brother Jim: “Bob was a son, a brother, a friend, a pal, a companion, a sweetheart, a loving husband, a father, a provider. In addition, he was a leader, a teacher, an advisor, a counselor and a care giver, a home teacher, a temple worker, a Patriarch, an anchor, an example.

“He was always working with, inspiring, and supporting the communities’ youth and much, much more.”

Robert is survived by his sons Robert Douglas (Susan) Carroll, Jr and Ronald (Diana) Carroll, and daughter Kristie (Doug) Whipple; grandchildren Hesper (Daniel) Chapman, Erin (Ray) Washington, Tyson (Keri) Carroll, Heather Schaefer, Kama (Tony) Lucero, Keith (Tracie) Carroll, Cody (Bobby) Larsen-Carroll, Brittnie (Nate) Miller, Cortnie (Brad) Jarman, and Tiffanie Whipple; along with 14 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. Also surviving are his brother James Carroll, brother-in-law Howard (Alma) Williams, and sister-in-law Donna Oviatt; many nieces and nephews; and one very special nephew, Dennis (Laura) Williams.

Robert is preceeded in death by his parents, wife Vee Carroll, son Kevin Carroll, and great-granddaughter Ellie Jarman, along with a brother Craig Christensen.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, September 11, 2021 at the LDS Chapel at 475 West 400 North in Moab, UT. A viewing will be held at 9 a.m. with funeral service at 10 a.m. Burial will follow at the Sunset Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

You may send condolences to the family at www.SpanishValleyMortuary.com