Carma Rae Hansen Schneider Obituary (1957 - 2021)

MURRAY — Carma Rae Hansen Schneider passed away March 2, 2021. Heart failure, two open-heart surgeries and lingering aftereffects from a battle with cancer, among other things, were just too much for her mortal body to recover from. Carma was born March 10, 1957, in Murray, Utah, to Clarence Peter and Chloris Nielsen Hansen. She grew up in Sandy when Sandy was rural, spending her childhood with her siblings roaming fields and along irrigation ditches, and walking over to State Street to browse the small-town stores. Carma graduated from Jordan High School in 1975, where she enjoyed singing with the school choir, and then from Brigham Young University in 1979 with a degree in educational psychology. She taught elementary school in the Jordan School District, mostly fourth and fifth grades. She had her teaching endorsements for learning disabilities and for gifted and talented education. She had also been a presenter in the Deseret News’ Newspapers in Education seminars. Carma married David Joseph Schneider on Jan. 21, 1987, in the Jordan River Temple, 10 months after they’d met on a blind date. They were blessed with five children. Carma was proud of her family, a mixture of biological and adopted children, of different races and ethnicities. She and her husband served five years on the national board of LDS Family Services’ Families Supporting Adoption organization. They also had been foster parents for the state Division of Child and Family Services. After teaching school for 13 years, Carma decided that she’d rather spend her days at home with her family than in a classroom with 30 to 40 students. She valued her sons’ and daughters’ education. She served in several volunteer capacities at Horizon Elementary School in Murray, including one year as PTA president and two years on the School Community Council. Carma was an active and practicing member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She had callings in many organizations in the wards where she lived, including Relief Society, twice as first counselor in the ward presidency, and in her favorite calling, as an instructor in Relief Society Sunday meetings; Primary, as teacher, nursery leader and Cub Scout pack committee chairman; and music, as a pianist and as ward music chairman. She also spent many Sundays, evenings and summer-camp weeks keeping the family headed in the right direction at home while Dave fulfilled his various church responsibilities. Carma is survived by her husband; son Matthew and his wife, Heydon; son Michael and his wife, Haley; daughter Lisa and her husband, Ryan Mersmann, and their little daughter Willow; son Ryan; daughter Kimberly; five siblings, Sharon Hansen, Dale (Linda) Hansen, Gary (Arlene) Hansen, Glade (Susan) Hansen and Rick (Cindy) Hansen; her father-in-law, Jay Schneider; David’s siblings, Judy Allen, Glen Schneider, Ronald Schneider and Tom (Melissa) Schneider; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Sandra, sister-in-law Carole Hansen, mother-in-law Rosmarie Schneider and nephews Jared and Scott. A viewing, including face masks and appropriate distancing, with family and friends will be 6:00-8:00p.m. Sunday, March 7, at Jenkins-Soffe Mortuary, 4760 S. State St., Murray. A graveside service will be 11:00 am Monday, March 8, at Elysian Burial Gardens, 1075 E. 4580 South, Millcreek. In case of inclement weather Monday, the service will be held at the mortuary, with limited attendance. From either location, the services will be broadcast live online, to view, click the link that is posted at the top of this page.