Carolyn Hurt Gwyther, age 84, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Saturday, March 2, 2024 at Castleview Hospital in Price, Utah. She was born on August 23, 1939 in Boise, Idaho to Earl and Katherine Mott Hurt.

Carolyn’s love of ballet began early in her childhood. During her teen years she spent her summers training her talent at the San Francisco Ballet Prep School. After graduating high school in Boise, Idaho she moved to San Francisco to continue her dance training while attending Lone Mountain Women’s Catholic University and later the University of California Berkley.

While attending college she was promoted to a full member of the San Francisco Ballet and Opera Company where she performed in the first US presentation of “The Nutcracker.” She later followed the director of the company, William Christensen (Mr. C), to Salt Lake City when he started the ballet department at the University of Utah and later Ballet West.

At the University of Utah, Carolyn met the love of her life, Tim. They married after dating three years and remained married for 58 years. She is a mother of three children, Brad, Tori, and Matt and three grandchildren.

Carolyn and Tim moved to Indiana after marrying where they remained for 16 years. While in Indiana she continued to perform with local companies and grew a passion for teaching dance while working with the University of Notre Dame University Athletic Department, and operating a large dance school in Plymouth, Indiana.

In 1981, she moved with her husband to Price, Utah where she continued to teach dance out of her home and began teaching ballet classes at the College of Eastern Utah.

Carolyn always valued education. She returned to college in her late 30’s to complete her Bachelor’s degree at the University of Utah and later earned a Master’s of Fine Arts at Utah State University.

She became head of the dance department at the College of Eastern Utah and started Ballet Repertory Ensemble. BRE produced several performances a year including a performance of “The Nutcracker,” using parts of Mr. C’s original choreography which became an annual tradition.

Carolyn retired from teaching at the college and spent her last years with her devoted husband, spending time together gardening, traveling, and being with their children and grandchildren; all while threatening to leave retirement to return to her love of teaching.

Per Carolyn’s wishes; no services will be held at this time. Arrangements entrusted to Mitchell Funeral Home of Price and Huntington where friends are always welcome daily and may share memories of Carolyn online at www.mitchellfuneralhome.net