Barbara Jensen

A bright, brown-eyed ray of sunshine named Barbara Ann entered the world via El Paso, Texas, on June 16, 1943. Raised by her Grandma Marshall in Arizona for the first few years of her life, eventually she was claimed by Kenneth and Iris Morrissey who became her forever parents. Ken's work took their little family on many adventures overseas to places such as Iraq, Guam, Laos, and Iran; Throughout her life, Barbara loved to tell the stories of this time to anyone who would listen, and sometimes to those who wouldn't. Her unconventional upbringing gained her immense knowledge and compassion for all people but shortchanged her in the spelling department. Despite this, she loved to write--letters, stories, her testimony, poems, birthday, anniversary or graduation cards, lists, thoughts. If there was an occasion, she wrote about it. If she had an inkling, she wrote about it. There was always a plethora of papers with her scribbles on counter or desk- tops.

At the age of 16 she was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Church and its teachings brought considerable joy into her life and as such, she loved to share her testimony. She struggled when others couldn't accept what she held dear; she felt it was as clear as day and did not hesitate to tell them so.

Barbara was sealed for time and for all eternity to the love of her life, Grant Cleon Jensen, on June 1, 1965, in the Logan temple. As time went on, they welcomed 7 children into their lives: the first four in four years! Kimberly Ferrell (Jeff), Timothy Scott (Chris Schultz), Daylynn Brandley, Daniel Shawn (Chris Valdovinos), Peter Kaye (Alex Cooper), Sarina, and Cory Patrick (Marci Moore).

As happens in growing families, these children had children and then those children had children thereby extending Barbara's legacy of love.

Her much-loved grandchildren are Chelsea Dorn (Steven), Talia Brett (Nigel), Kayley Jepson, Jaden, Dakota, Tyler (Whitney), Andrew (Dahily), Amber Kapp (Kory), Emily (Tyson), Elijah, Hannah Olney (Adam), Savannah, Annah, Ezrah, Destiny Porter (Justin), Morgan Todd (Gavin), Cameron, Emma, Journey, Jenna, Jax, Brooklynn, Ashlynn, Courtlynn.

Great-grandchildren: Quintin, Hasting, Bryndley (Dorn), Kort, Tess (Keller), Preston, William, Jackson, Adaela (Brett), Bentley, Ella (Jepson), Penelope (Brett), Jezlia, Jordan, Charlie, Kyrie (Kapp), Grace (Olney), Oakley (Todd).

Barbara took to motherhood as if she were born to it, and, indeed, she was. Her children, their achievements and accolades, their frailties and failures were all vibrantly celebrated and compassionately acknowledged. Not only did she mother her 7 little chicks, but she also mothered countless other children. Those who were friends of her children--who were often at her house as often as their own--those in her primary and Sunday school classes, those in her Blazer Scout troop, those in her aerobics class nursery. She provided counsel and Kool-Aid, dried tears and calmed tantrums, read stories and sang lullabies. And she loved, unconditionally.

Celebrating and decorating for all holidays, creating memories, and forging traditions was an essential part of Barbara. She could make a holiday out of any occasion. Ordinary Thursdays were declared "Kings and Queens Day" and included dressing up in finery, sitting under the lilac tree and consuming Hostess treats, Heart shaped donuts and homemade valentines under pillows, paper bag pinatas on Halloween, Easter egg hunts, and Breakfast with Santa and matching pajamas at Christmas were treasured traditions. She continued these traditions with her grandchildren in addition to annual theme parties where they would dress as pirates or perhaps French fries. And during these occasions, she would take pictures, leaning waaaay back so she could get everybody in the frame.

She loved people and never met a stranger, initiating conversations wherever she was; grocery store lines, doctor's offices, laundromat, voting polls. People were invariably drawn to her enthusiasm and her candor.

Barbara's sense of humor was both robust and childlike. it was not uncommon for her to laugh at jokes, even if she had heard the same one multiple times. She loved to play games, even if she didn't know the rules and the worse, she played, the harder she giggled.

Her calling as a temple worker in the Ogden Temple with her dear Cleon was one of her lifetime favorites. She served happily and diligently until the monster of Alzheimer's clouded her mind and she could no longer perform in that capacity.

Although she lived in a constant present for many of her last years, visiting with Barbara would leave people feeling cherished and championed. Her moments of lucidity became fewer, but her optimism and love kept shining. And as, inevitably, Alzheimer's claimed more and more and still more from her brain and body she got farther and farther from the grasp of her family.

Finally, on the cold afternoon of November 6, 2022, surrounded by her beloved family in Ogden, Utah, Barbara closed eyes that had seen much in her 79 years, took her last breath, and returned home to her Heavenly Father.
Funeral Services will be held at 10 am on Friday, Nov. 11, 2022 at Lorin Farr Stake Center, 9th and Harrison, Ogden, UT. A viewing will be held Nov. 10th from 6 to 8 p.m. at Myers Mortuary, 845 Washington Blvd., Ogden, UT and Friday prior to the service from 9 to 9:45 a.m. Interment in Malad, Idaho at the Pleasant View Cemetery, 4678 ID 38, Malad, ID 83252.