J Stephen Jones Obituary (1937 - 2011)

Beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend, "J" Stephen Jones, died peacefully on January 16, 2011. Steve was born on October 16, 1937, the oldest of 4 children, to "J" Petty and Rebecca Tucker Jones in Provo, Utah. Steve married his companion of nearly 48 years, Barbara Ellen Buss, on May 17, 1963 in the Logan LDS Temple. He was preceded in death by his parents and survived by his wife, and children: Sandi (Brian) Jones, J Clark (Jana) Jones, Bobby (Jeri) Jones, Quinton (Janelle) Jones, Patricia Parry, his brother Mike (Joan) Jones, and sisters Catherine (Tom) Smith and Rebecca Shepherd. Steve is also the loving grandfather of 16 grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. He was an active member of the LDS church and served faithfully in any calling he was asked to serve. Steve had a love for teaching and dedicated his life to teaching the Gospel, by both word and in example, to all those he came in contact with. Steve worked in the Church Education System for nearly 40 years, beginning as a seminary teacher, an institute teacher and director, and finally as an Executive Administrator at the LDS Church Headquarters. Steve's love for teaching was partnered with a love for learning. He graduated from BY High in 1955, earned a Bachelor's Degree and a Masters Degree from BYU, and his Doctorate of Education from the University of Georgia. He served LDS Missions in the Southern Australia Mission from 1958 to 1960 and with his dear wife in Samoa from 2000 to 2001. Throughout his life Steve looked for opportunities to serve others. He spent countless hours assisting in the community as a BSA Advancement Chairman, the Director of Baseball for the city of Fruit Heights, a temple worker in the Bountiful LDS Temple and the Apia Samoa LDS Temple. He also spent many hours attending BYU football and basketball games, fishing, working in his wood shop, serving his neighbors, and most of all, his family. It is an honor and a blessing to have lived with him, to have known him, and to be loved by him. A viewing will be held on Thursday, January 20 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Myers Mortuary located at 250 North Fairfield Road, Layton Utah. The funeral service will be on Friday, January 21 in the Country Lane chapel located at 24 South Country Lane, Fruit Heights Utah, with a viewing beginning at 9:30 a.m. and the service at 11 a.m. Interment will be at Provo City Cemetery at 2:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers please make donations to the LDS Perpetual Education Fund. VisitationMyers Mortuary of Layton 250 N. Fairfield Rd. Layton, UT 84041 January 20, 2011 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM ServiceFruit Heights 4th Ward 24 South Country Lane Fruit Heights, UT January 21, 2011 11:00 AM CemeteryProvo City Cemetery 100 Monroe Blvd. Ogden, UT 84404 January 21, 2011 2:30 PM