Carla Jean Whitworth Avant, age 73, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on June 11, 2026 at her home in Kanab, UT after battling with Parkinson’s and breast cancer.
She was born in Las Cruces, New Mexico to Joseph Wayne and Edith Leona Merrill Whitworth. She was raised in Las Cruces. They spent a few years in Pulman, Washington. The family later returned to Las Cruces where she graduated from Las Cruces High School.
While attending New Mexico State University, Carla met the love of her life, Ira M “Mike” Avant. They were married on January 9, 1973 in the Mesa Arizona Temple. They lived in Las Cruces while Mike finished college before moving to Mountainair, New Mexico so Mike could work for the local power company. Their children Janeen and Thomas were born while they lived in Mountainair. The small family moved to Chama, New Mexico where they lived and worked for 12 years. In 1990, Mike took a job in Kanab, UT and the family relocated.
Carla spent her life in service of others and touched the hearts of everyone who knew her. She served in Primary, Activity Day Girls, Young Women’s and Relief Society. She and Mike spent many summers taking Young Women on overnight camping adventures filled with hikes, mountain lions and floods. They made life long memories with so many. Carla used her talented hands to start her own business, Carla’s Creations. She learned to sew, reupholster furniture and automobiles, paint, sketch, woodwork, cabinetry, spinning, knitting, crocheting, needlework and shooting. She also spent many hours teaching others. So many have been gifted items made from her hands. She was thoughtful in the gifts she shared hoping that each item would be meaningful and useful to the recipient. Carla was a lifetime member of SASS and spent many years organizing Western Legends Roundup and traveling with Mike to compete in single action competitions, long range competitions, and costume contests. Carla was well known for her abilities as a seamstress and was definitely the belle of the ball.
Survivors include her husband Mike Avant of Kanab, UT; children Janeen Avant of St George, UT and Thomas Wayne (Sasha) Avant of Kanab, UT; sisters Verena Marie (Terry) Booth of Cheyenne, WY, Katrina Ann (Jimmy Dean) Camp of Goodyear, AZ; brothers Clynn Wayne (Kathleen) Whitworth of Pleasant Grove, UT, Timothy Mark (Audrey) Whitworth of Sugar City, ID, Steven Merrill Whitworth of Pensacola, FL, Michael Lynn (Kathryn) Whitworth of Rigby, ID, Jonathan Lee (Holly) Whitworth of Idaho Falls, ID, Seth Leon (Gaylene) Whitworth of Muleshoe, TX; 7 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild. She was preceded in death by her parents and sister-in-law Christine Whitworth.
Funeral services will be at 11am Saturday, June 20, 2026 at Kanab Utah Kaibab Stake Center 1435 S McAllister Dr, Kanab, UT. Public viewing will be from 10:00-10:45 Saturday morning.
Burial will be at Kanab City Cemetery, Kanab, UT.
I loved visiting with Carla! It was fun to sit beside her and have her show me pictures of her work. She will be missed. I remember when Carla learned that my son loved bow ties, she brought one over to Brad as a gift. She was always looking for ways to serve others. She brightened my day by the way she showed love to my son. I love you all and consider you family. May God continue to comfort and guide you through the days and years to come.
Aunt Carla was a loving and kind aunt, with a clever sense of humor and so many talents. What a treasure she was to all. I loved when my family would pass through and stop at their house, whether in NM or UT and we could visit.. Mike, Janeen and Tom, what a privilege to have such an amazing woman in your lives.
Love- cousin Katie
Love to the family. Carla is still sharing with those across the veil, especially her smiles!
My sister Debra was on the autistic spectrum. She and Carla were the same age, and when the Witworth family came to Idaho every summer, the two spent a lot of time together. When Carla was around, Debra almost seemed normal. It was if Carla had some sort of magic power. Maybe it’s just because she had someone to do tomboy things with.