1941 ~ 2022
Mary Kathleen (Mary Kay) Carlquist McDermott was born to Beatrice and Dr. John Howard Carlquist on May 24, 1941. The day of her birth was a beautiful spring day instilling a life-long love for the pastel pallet of May. To her delight, the blooming Hawthorn and drowsily awakening tulips would annually announce the upcoming celebration of her birth. The love of flowers drew her to seek seasonal work at Millcreek Gardens Nursery where she would celebrate her favorite season by digging, planting, lifting, carrying and gleefully getting dirty. Throughout her life, she was very close to her mother, and she passed away on her mother’s birthday, January 14, 2022.
She attended Judge Memorial High School from which she graduated with honors in 1959 and attended the prestigious Lone Mountain Women’s College in San Francisco; she eventually returned to the University of Utah from which she graduated in English. Throughout her life, her affinity for others drew her into many organizations; while attending the University of Utah she affiliated with Pi Beta Phi sorority and was a member of Spurs and Army Sponsors. Mary Kay possessed a natural beauty and represented her sorority in the University of Utah Founders Day Queen contest in 1960. She won that contest which advanced her to the Miss Utah Contest in which she was a finalist. Not fully comfortable with that kind of attention, she declined similar opportunities in the years to come. Mary Kay married James W. Freed in 1962. They had two children, Lauren Whitney and James Michael. The marriage ended after 23 years. In 1997 she married her dearest love John Dennis Mcdermott. They shared 25 blissful years and together built a loving, blended family. Many of her friendships over the years grew from her participation in civic and social organizations. She was a member of the Junior League of Salt Lake City, served on the boards of the Voluntary Action Center and the Museum of Fine Arts. She was Chairman of the St Vincent de Paul a parish Council, a Girl Scout leader, a Cub Scout den mother and she sang fairly well in the St Mark’s Cathedral Choir. A member of the Town Club she was also a founding member of the No-Bridge-Bridge Club, a close group of friends who met monthly for lunch, frivolous fun and sincere conversation. Mary Kay never spoke of her accomplishments, but to her closest friends she disclosed two coincidences in her life that partially elevated her to celebrity status: she was born on the same day as Bob Dylan and for several years she drove the same make and model car as George Harrison. Throughout her life, these remained sources of personal pride for her. Mary Kay loved to write and listen to poetry, attend the symphony, swim, hike and walk with her cherished dogs. Perhaps her favorite evening was exploring a new, quaint bistro followed by a movie, a play or just a walk with her beloved husband.
She is survived by her husband John and his daughters, Holly McDermott of Salt Lake City, Jenifer Holdaway of Vancouver B.C., and their children, Emilee, Zackry, Konnor, Alexa, and Kaitlyne, also a sister, Karen Payne of Oakland CA and a brother, John Carlquist, Park City UT. She is also survived by countless wonderful people who loved her and will miss her forever.
A celebration of Mary Kay’s life is planned at the time of her birthday when the Hawthorns bloom and the tulips awaken. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Mary Kay’s favorite organizations, the Nature Conservancy and Best Friends Animal Shelter.
Published by The Salt Lake Tribune from Jan. 20 to Jan. 28, 2022.
