Carla Fae Empey, 70, of Shelley, died Wednesday, November 24, 2021, at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center.

She was born November 6, 1951, in Roberts, Idaho. She was raised in Roberts by her parents, Alvin and Beulah Adams. She had 2 older brothers, Gene and Denny, but they were much older, so she basically grew up an only child. Carla loved spending time with her parents. She would go fishing and hunting with her father and would spend hours in the kitchen with her mother cooking and canning. Her father grew a wonderful garden that she loved to help with and steal fresh veggies from. While in Roberts, she attended the Baptist Church.

Carla started working young. She would babysit for the neighbors but got her first job at age 14 in the Roberts Café. After graduating from West Jefferson High School in 1970, she started working at Fresh Pack. After she had her son Mike, she started school at Eastern Idaho Technical College and got her degree in drafting. She did that until 1981, then she became a stay-at-home mom. She started driving school bus in 1988 and did so until she retired in 1998.

She married William Aurtur Empey in Elko, Nevada, on June 9, 1980. Carla and Bill started raising and selling Shih-Tzu puppies in 1997. She was always an animal lover. Bill passed away on January 27, 2014.

Carla loved being a mother to her two children and three stepchildren. She adored her grandchildren and loved to spoil them rotten.

Carla is survived by her son, Michael Alvin (Amy) Empey of Sandy, Utah; daughter, Sara Grace Empey of Shelley; stepdaughter, Katrina (Dan) Hunt of Idaho Falls; stepsons Danny (Amy) Empey and Don (Cindy) Empey, both of Idaho Falls; 15 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her husband, her parents, brothers Andrew Strain and Eugene Strain, and grandson, Mason Empey.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, December 2, 2021, at Coltrin Mortuary, 2100 First Street, Idaho Falls. The family will receive friends from 6:30-8:00 p.m., Wednesday, December 1, 2021, at Coltrin Mortuary and one hour prior to the services. Interment will be at the Annis Little Butte Cemetery.