Sharon Gay Wright Jones

 Sharon Gay Wright Jones, 90, passed peacefully from this life on Nov. 4, 2024, in Layton, Utah, surrounded by family members.

 Sharon was born Jan. 26, 1934, in Lewisville, Idaho, the third of Parley Dana and Elizabeth Deane Walker Wright’s four children. They lived in Kemmerer, Wyo. until her second grade year when the family moved to Council, Idaho. 

 She enjoyed riding her horse but was not a fan of fishing, an aversion she carried into adulthood. She thought it a fun fact that her baptism into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints took place at the swimming pool in Starkey. Her branch was so small, they met in people’s homes for church. 

 Sharon graduated from Council High School in 1952 as valedictorian of her class. In addition to academics, she loved being part of the school’s tumbling/twirling team. Three of her best friends were also on the team. The girls were trying to see which one of them would weigh 100 pounds before graduation, but…none of them made it. 

 After high school, Sharon was very excited to attend Brigham Young University. She savored every moment and loved learning with thousands of students who were strong in the Church. 

 Her joy was short-lived, however, when a terrible car accident over Christmas break prevented her from going back to BYU. Instead, she spent months in the hospital trying to recover from several broken bones. One of her legs was never set properly, and she suffered from it being shorter than the other leg the rest of her life. Despite surgeries, special shoes, and other attempts, it was a constant pain she endured daily up until she passed away. She was looking forward to being able to run again.

 In her young adult years, Sharon worked as a telephone operator, a perfect fit as she was adept at making connections. 

 She made her own special connection with Rex Donald Jones after the two were set up on a blind date by some mutual friends. Despite having many young men vying for her attention (including some proposals while at BYU), Sharon married Rex on Oct. 24, 1953. She said he was the only man she ever loved. The marriage was later solemnized in the Idaho Falls Temple on June 16, 1978.

 Rex and Sharon made their first home in Cambridge where they lived on Rex’s uncle’s farm. It was a busy time, filled with hard work and the building of their young family: two sons and two daughters. When Rex’s father passed, they moved out to Jones Ranch on 3030 Rush Creek Road where they continued farming and established their permanent home. 

 Sharon loved to read, and would often “allow” the children to neglect their chores and go fishing for hours on end so she could sneak in some alone time with a good book. 

 One of her and Rex’s favorite pastimes was traveling, which they did to the fullest. They traveled to many exotic destinations and enjoyed seeing the world. Sharon was an excellent gardener and loved to quilt. She often entered her quilts in the county fair and took home several awards. As her posterity grew, she made quilts for each of her grandchildren for their graduations and numerous baby quilts as well. 

 Sharon’s greatest joy was being a mother and grandmother to her 29 grandchildren and 83 plus great-grandchildren. She also spent many years serving and connecting with other peoples’ children as a primary worker in various positions, which she loved. She also served diligently in a calling that she said was hard for her: Ward and Stake Communication Director.  She originally began writing articles and newsletters to cover her ward and then the town of Cambridge, but she did such a good job she was asked to do it on the stake level. Overall, she spent 25-30 years fulfilling this role.

 Sharon also dedicated her life to family history work, allowing families (hers and others’) to be connected beyond the veil. No one can count the hours she spent researching records and preparing names to be taken to the temple, completing many of the ordinances herself. 

 Her greatest desire was to live closer to a temple so she could attend more frequently. This blessing was realized when she moved from Idaho to Utah four years ago. She faithfully attended each week, up until two weeks before her passing. Even when health and circumstances forced her to decrease her efforts, she was still indexing in her room up until the end of her life. Upon her passing, we know she was greeted by thousands of grateful brothers and sisters whose temple work she was instrumental in completing. 

 In January 2021, Sharon moved to Legacy House where she continued to make connections with those around her. She was loved by all the residents and staff, and her impact there was great. She liked to play games with her many friends – Scrabble, Rummikub, and Tri-ominos being some of her favorites – and she had gained the reputation of being the best Jeopardy player in the place. She also started and led a small group that regularly studied scripture together through the Come, Follow Me program. 

 Sharon felt she was born with a testimony of Jesus Christ, a spiritual gift she considered a wonderful treasure. She never took that for granted, and she worked hard to live the gospel every day and ensure her family knew what was important to her. She stayed true to the very end, and we are all blessed by her example. Her many quilts are representative of how Sharon lived her life. 

 Though she experienced many hardships, she made the best of what life gave her and turned it into something beautiful. She lived a great, full life, pieced together with diligence, faith, and love.

 Sharon is survived by her children: Gordon (Carol Lee) Jones of Farmington, Utah; Bradley (Lynette) Jones of Etowah, North Carolina; Debby (Jack) Eichelberger of Henderson, Nev.; and Kitty (Mark) King of Oakley, Utah; and a sister, Jody (Don) Mummert of Boise, Idaho. 

 She is preceded in death by her husband, Rex Donald Jones; daughter-in-law, Carol Lee Jones; granddaughters Emily Jones and Taylor King; and grandson Dustin Eichelberger. 

 Funeral services will be held Saturday, Nov. 16, at 11 a.m. at the LDS Chapel, 35 Second Street, Cambridge, Idaho. A viewing will be held from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. Interment will be held after the service at the Salubria Cemetery. 

 Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Thomason Funeral Home.