Shirley Ann Greenwood Jones was an accomplished woman of substance ‚ she lived life much larger than her petite stature and filled her 76 years with learning, joy and family. She loved her life at every stage; including the final one she named "Act Three". She died at her home in Salt Lake City of complications of rheumatoid arthritis on April 4, 2018. She was the wife of Gary Mac Jones who preceded her in death; daughter of Orren J. Greenwood and Jennie Bishop Greenwood; mother of Jennifer Jones Beck (Philip), and Matthew Alan Jones (deceased). She was grandmother to Alex (McKenna), Erin, Devin and Gabriella Beck and Grandma ‚ÄòGreat' to baby Tamilyn. She was one of five ‚ÄòGreenwood Girls': Jeanine (Paul) Kochevar, Jessie Kay (David) Lloyd (both deceased), Afton Greenwood, and Susan (Larry) Stott and also had two much-loved "little" brothers, Gerald (Jeanne) Greenwood, and Stephen (Doris) Greenwood.
Shirley attended Jordan High School, where she was active in student government, debate, and dance. It was there that she decided upon teaching as her life's work. She and her sweetheart and future husband, Gary, were inseparable during those years. She graduated from Brigham Young University in 1962, with a degree in secondary education. She loved her years as a Cougarette, member of Cami Los Social Unit and Orchesis dance company.
Shirley and Gary married just prior to her final semester at BYU while he attended the U of U. She taught dance and drama at Hillcrest High School before they embarked on many exciting, great adventures together. First in Seattle, WA., Shirley taught at Shoreline High School while Gary studied Urban Planning at U.W. After they returned to Utah, Shirley completed her Masters' degree at the University of Utah. They shared their next adventure while she taught speech and debate at the University of Maryland and Gary fulfilled a D.C. internship during the turbulent 1970's student protest years. Their experiences in both Washington state and D.C. turned them both into lifelong Mormon Democrats. They both loved serving in various callings in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Being a mother was one of Shirley's greatest joys. When Jennie and Matt grew out of ‘smothering' she began work on her Ph.D. in Communication at the U of U. She completed it in 1991 and spent the next 25 years as a professor in Wilkes Barre, PA and at Salt Lake Community College in SLC, UT. As a professor, she loved teaching and influencing the countless students who took her classes.
She filled her life with teaching, learning, reading, writing, travel, service and meaningful relationships. She was fascinated by history, culture, politics, and all liberal arts. Her final years were spent writing. She published her first book in her early 70's. She loved spending time with her friends, (especially those in the Salt Lake Book Club), her sisters and her immediate family. Her daughter and all Becks took loving care of her and included her in their fun (when she'd let them).
Her abiding Latter-day Saint faith in eternal families, and the tender mercies of her Savior, sustained her through life's challenges. She exemplified patience and grace even while suffering through painful health trials. Special thanks to Symbi Hospice for their exceptional care of Shirley in her final weeks.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, April 13th at the LDS chapel located at 951 East 100 South in SLC. Public viewings will be on Thursday evening from 6:00-8:00 at Larkin Mortuary, 260 E. South Temple, SLC and Thursday morning from 10:00-10:45 prior to the 11:00 service in the chapel. Interment in the Sandy City Cemetery.
