Our dear dad and grandpa, Earl Barnett Jones, 95, passed away December 7, 2018 in Salt Lake City. Earl was born May 19, 1923 in Malad City, Idaho, the first of four sons of Ebenezer Morse and Lucy Adeline Barnett Jones. He had many relatives who lived in the small towns of southeastern Idaho which had originated as Welsh farming communities. His elementary school was a one-room schoolhouse with one teacher instructing children in several different grades. He loved living in Malad, and, throughout his life, he enjoyed returning for school reunions and visits.
In 1937, Earl's family moved to Hunter, Utah. He graduated from Cyprus High School and later served in the United States Marine Corps during World War II, based at Naval Air Station Honolulu. After the war, Earl graduated from Brigham Young University. Most of his working career was as a mortgage loan officer and appraiser for First Security Bank of Utah. After retiring from the bank in 1986, he opened Jones Appraisal Service and continued appraising for several years.
Earl was a lifelong, dedicated member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and resided in Salt Lake Granite Stake for over 50 years. He shared his strong testimony of the restored gospel often with friends and family. He served in many positions, including Bishop, member of the Stake Presidency, Stake Sunday School Superintendent, and Stake Mission President. He also worked in the Salt Lake Temple for many years.
Earl loved photography and visiting new places. He always ensured his family had opportunities to travel the globe. Favorite vacations included cruises of Hawaii and Tahiti. His friends from the Granite Stake may remember the many bus tours he organized for stake members and hosted, together with his wife Marilyn, to such places as Calgary, Canada; San Francisco; the Bahamas; and the New England states. A highlight of his later years was touring many European cities with his beloved grandsons, Brandon and Spencer.
In his last years, Earl endured many serious health problems which he handled with courage and grace. Always optimistic, he had an amazing talent for accepting life's challenges and moving on, to the best of his ability. Earl was a "people person" who had a warm, engaging personality, was devoted to his family, made friends easily, and loved socializing. We know he is enjoying a great reunion with family members and friends he has missed!
Earl married Marilyn Joyce Hanna on September 11, 1959. She passed away March 22, 1999. On August 25, 2001, he married Maude Rogers Fairbanks. Maude passed away April 2, 2013. Earl is survived by his daughter Carolyn Jones, his son Allan B. (Natalie) Jones, and Allan's sons, Brandon B. Jones and Spencer B. Jones, of whom Earl was so proud and loved with all his heart. He was predeceased by his son Earl Blair Jones, his parents, and his brothers Ray B. Jones, Eldon M. Jones, and Bernell B. Jones. Earl's family is grateful to the staffs of Highland Cove Assisted Living and Caregiver Support Network for their kind and attentive care.
Funeral services will be held at the Nibley Park Ward, 2465 South 800 East in Salt Lake City, on Saturday, December 15, 2018, at 11:00 a.m., where friends may call Friday, December 14, 2018, from 6:00-8:00 p.m., or at 10:00-10:45 a.m. prior to the service. Interment at the Salt Lake City Cemetery.
