Joseph Elroy Jones

Joseph Elroy Jones, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and yes, great, great-grandfather passed away peacefully surrounded by his children at Pacifica Millcreek care center on August 10, 2021.

Born September 28,1924 in Delta, Utah to Elroy Smith Jones and Josephine Savage Jones, Elroy was the oldest of four children, all of whom are now deceased. He spent his early years in Heber City and later Price, Utah where he graduated from Carbon high school. It was there that he became acquainted with the Keeler family and, most notably Colleen who would later become his bride. He joined the Navy during World War II and later served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Switzerland. Upon his return he rekindled his relationship with Colleen, and they were married in the Salt Lake Temple in December of 1949.

Elroy was accomplished at many things. As a young boy he contracted the dreaded poliovirus. Doctors told him he would always walk with a limp and never run again. But they didn’t know dad, and he proved them wrong by later playing baseball for the high school varsity team and running the mile in track. He was also an ardent swimmer and played college soccer at Brown university at a time when the sport was largely unknown in the western U.S. And no limp was ever part of his natural gait. From an early age Elroy showed an interest in and talent for music. This became his first love, except of course for Colleen, who also was musically inclined, and together they sang for many years in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Dad also loved good language and was drawn to literature and poetry. He later received his master’s degree in Oral Interpretation from the University of Utah and wrote his master’s thesis on the poet of the Yukon, Robert Service. Dad was distinguished by his deep and sonorous bass voice and loved to read or recite poetry and was frequently asked to sing as a soloist at a variety of functions.

His career was also multi-faceted. He worked as a special agent for the FBI, was a regional representative for the American Cancer Society, the director of security/chief of police at the university of Utah, and a financial advisor and realtor. In his later years, his avocation became his garden and the fruits thereof. He was noted for his tomatoes.

After Colleen passed way in 2003, dad married Donna Beckstead and they had a very happy marriage for the remainder of his life. They served together as temple workers for over nine years in the Salt Lake Temple. Donna became dad’s primary caregiver and performed that function admirably with love and devotion.

Elroy was a devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and served in a variety of callings including Bishop and high councilor. He and Colleen served a family history mission which further prompted their interest in their own family history. Later, Elroy and Donna also served a family history mission. Both Elroy and Colleen wrote their personal histories before they died. These histories have become a treasure to their children and others.

Elroy is survived by his wife Donna Beckstead Jones, children: David E. Jones (Janine), Richard K. Jones (Marilyn), Kristine Wallin (Kent), Roger S. Jones (Heidi), Carol Jones, and Stephen E. Jones (Suzanne), Robert Beckstead (Kristen), Stephen Beckstead (Becky), Kathy Julian, David Beckstead (Ann), Julie Updike (Alan), David Beckstead (Ann), along with many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and a handful of great, great-grandchildren.

Services will be held Saturday August 21, 2021, at 12:00 pm at the Foothill Stake Center located at 2100 E. 1950 S. in Salt Lake City, Utah. A viewing will be held prior to that from 10:30 to 11:30 at the same location. Interment will be at Larkin Sunset Gardens Cemetery in Sandy, Utah.