Edna Jones

Edna Schow Jones was born at home on 7th South and Main, Brigham City, Utah, June 5th 1925, and passed away peacefully February 3, 2023 in the city of Hillsboro, Oregon. She was the ninth of ten children born to Mary Elizabeth Bickmore Schow and Ira Michael Schow. Edna grew up in Brigham City, Utah surrounded by a large, loving family.



She is the last of her and her husband's families to pass. She is survived by her six children-- Kenneth Evan Jones (Chris), Jerel Jones, Janeen Jones, Laurie Horrocks (Kevin), Paul Thomas Jones, and Robert Reed Jones (Fawne)--as well as fifteen grandchildren and 46 great-grandchildren.



The Great Depression started when Edna was four years old. Her entire childhood and young womanhood occurred during this Great Depression era. The experience left a deep impression upon her.

After high school, Edna attended Weber State College and graduated with an Associate's degree. One of the girls in the dorm was Shirley Cunnington, who was to play an important role.



Edna graduated and was working when she, Shirley, and others attended stake conference. One of the speakers was a handsome returned missionary giving his missionary report. His name was Evan Jones. Shirley, his niece, introduced the two. They were married on August 9th 1945 in the Logan temple. The ceremony went long; therefore, there were no restaurants open afterwards to get a meal. The best they could find was a place selling donuts and popcorn. This became their honeymoon meal.



All throughout World War II and thereafter, Evan was employed by Pan American airlines working in management at the Panama City airport. Still retaining his employment in Panama, the couple returned there. Edna found a job as a secretary for the U.S. army which permitted them to live in the Panama Canal Zone.

Her first child, Kenneth, was born in Panama in 1947. Shortly after his birth, the family moved to Salt Lake City and into a little rental house on North Temple Street. The rental was owned by Evan's father, Thomas Jones. There, Evan finished his college education at University of Utah and worked for ZCMI. Upon graduation they decided on a career as a seminary teacher for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.



Their first assignment was at Tooele, Utah where Edna gave birth to twin daughters Jerel and Janeen in 1951. Later that summer, the family moved to Magna, Utah, where Laurie (1954), Paul (1957), and Rob (1961) were born.



Evan was the seminary principal in Magna for several decades. A few years before he retired, he became a seminary teacher to the homebound. At that time, the family moved to Bountiful, Utah. Evan died in Bountiful in 1991 when Edna was 66, leaving her a widow for over three decades.



Edna always kept a clean and tidy home and was especially proud of her beautiful home in Bountiful. Her home was always peaceful and welcoming, and her yard was beautiful. Evan and Edna were frugal and hardworking and taught these habits to their children.



Edna was a fabulous cook specializing in roast beef, gravy and potatoes or fried chicken on Sundays, Swiss steak, fabulous and beautifully presented Thanksgiving dinners, halibut casserole, country style barbecued spareribs, chicken breast casserole, chocolate chip cookies, raspberry riot cake, and her sister Ida's chocolate picnic cake. She kept an abundant pantry with rows of home-canned peaches, tomatoes, a variety of jams and jellies made from her own currents, grape juice made with her own grapes, and Indian relish which she used to compliment meat or make Thousand Island dressing with just a little kick.



She wanted her children to develop their talents. With inheritance money from Evan's father, they bought a piano and started everyone on piano as soon as they were able. They also bought a set of encyclopedias which were heavily used. Her children are grateful to her for this and countless other attentions.



She loved peanut clusters and would occasionally hide a small stash in her dresser drawer until her children made her bring it out, but in her later years she eagerly shared Peanut M&Ms and her favorites, Almond Joys and See's Candies. She usually kept the freezer stocked with ice cream. In her later years, her home was a waystation and refuge for visiting children and grandchildren. She was always an excellent and attentive hostess, making sure that her guests were comfortable, and her grandchildren amused.



Although Edna's favorite place was home, she traveled quite a bit. She visited Central America with her husband when they were living in the Canal Zone, and she and Evan toured Mexico with Evan's brother and wife, Robert and Merle. She visited Church history sites from Utah to New York and toured Italy, Israel, and Egypt on a church sponsored tour. Later, she and Evan went on a cruise to Alaska with Edna's brother and wife, Dan and Grace.

Edna loved to quilt and Evan joined the fun. They made beautiful baby quilts for each of their grandchildren, full and queen size quilts, and quilts for neighbors. Everything she made was skillfully and beautifully done.



Edna was active in church and held many callings. She served with her husband in the Spanish-speaking Helaman Branch in Magna. There she learned a little Spanish and served with her Spanish sisters, who were sweet to make the Jones family a milder version of their salsa for branch activities. After retirement, she later served with her husband on a mission to the Dominican Republic to introduce the Seminary Program to members there for the first time.



Edna's magnum opus was her family. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She preferred to be the wind under their wings rather than taking center stage herself. She lived with charity for all and compassion for the underdog.



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