Jera Sanders-Samuels

Jera Lynn Royster Sanders-Samuels

October 1, 1970 ~ April 10, 2018

Jera Lynn Royster Sanders-Samuels, age 47 passed away at her home after a long battle with addiction and life-long health issues. She was born on October 1, 1970 in Ogden, Utah to K. Greg Royster and Sally Ann Bushell Jones. While acknowledging her struggles with addiction, we as her family would like to take this opportunity to focus on her best traits and pay tribute to the Jera that we all know and loved.

Jera was a beautiful girl with an amazing smile, and fun personality. She attended Roosevelt Elementary; served as a cheerleader at T.H. Bell Junior High, and graduated from Bonneville High School where she enjoyed being a Lakette. She also attended WSU where she was a member of the Chatonelle dance team; she loved to dance. Jera also loved, shopping, lip gloss, clothes, candy, candles, boots, red velvet cake, take home containers after family dinners, her daughters, rides in the canyon with Colton, Ivie's music, and her, “Just for Today” book.

On September 10, 1999, Jera married David T. Sanders. They had one daughter, Ivie Brielle Sanders, Ivie was her mom's greatest gift; she also loved David's daughter, Devan Jaz Sanders, as her own. David and Jera were later divorced but remained good friends. On December 21, 2012 she married R. Colton Samuels.

Jera was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She had a great love for her Heavenly Father and her Savior Jesus Christ. We sincerely appreciate the support she received from the wards where she lived.

Jera is survived by her husband, Colton; her daughters, Ivie and Devan; Colton's sons, Jordan and Brayden Samuels; parents, Greg and Pam Royster and Ron and Sally Jones; brother, Curt Royster; sister, Rachel Royster. She is also survived by her siblings from the blended families; Jodi Jones, Kevin Jones (Donnell), Ryan Jones (Cydnee), Nesha Crandall Rosenland (Greg), Carrie Crandall Atwell (Shaun), Ryan Crandall (Michelle). She leaves behind aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins who were of great support during her lifetime. She was preceded in death by her sister, Michelle Royster; grandparents, Ken and Evelyn Royster, Richard and Verlene Curtis, and Robert Bushell.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, April 16, 2018 at 11 a.m. at Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Blvd. Friends may visit with family on Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m. and Monday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the mortuary. Interment, Lindquist’s Washington Heights Memorial Park, 4500 Washington Blvd.

Addiction is real; it robbed our Jera of her ability to live life to her true potential. The family hopes that her passing will encourage those struggling with addiction to seek help for this terrible disease; recovery can happen. We would like to thank all the friends and family members for the loving messages, calls, and kind acts of service.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Jera's memory, to the Midtown Community Health Center, 2240 Adams Avenue Ogden, Utah 84401 or Weber Human Services Foundation - Addiction Prevention Program, 237 26th Street, Ogden, Utah 84401.

Jera, be at peace, you are home now, laughing with your sister, and working on your eternal progression. We love you, we miss you, and you will never be forgotten.