Joy Cottrell Jeffs

Joy Cottrell Jeffs passed away at the age of 82 on Friday, February 28, 2025 from causes related to age and Alzheimer’s disease. Joy was born on January 4, 1943 to Howard Blood Cottrell and Violet Holland Cottrell in Roy, Utah. She was born when her dad was at Army Officers Training School during WWII. The first time he saw his new little daughter he said she was a bundle of Joy. So, she was given the name Joy. 

Joy grew up in North Ogden, the oldest of six children. She attended North Ogden Elementary School, Wahlquist Jr. High and Weber High, where she graduated in 1961. 

Joy was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and through the years she served faithfully. One of her first callings was as a scribe for Castle H. Murphy, the North Ogden Stake Patriarch. At the time, there was only one stake in North Ogden. She served until she married and moved to Ogden for a few years. She has also served in ward Relief Society presidencies, and as a teacher in primary, young women, and Sunday School organizations. She also spent many years as the ward organist. 

During her freshman year at Weber State College, Joy met Stephen Jeffs in a chemistry class. They dated briefly before Steve left for a 2 ½ year mission in North Germany. During that time, they continued to write to each other, and Joy received her degree in Radiology Technology from Weber State College. She started working at the Dee Hospital in the X-Ray department. Steve returned from Germany in May of 1965, and they were married on September 17, 1965 in the Salt Lake Temple. That day is remembered with the earliest measurable snowstorm in Utah. 

After leaving her job at the Dee and later McKay Dee hospitals, she stayed at home to take care of her children. She later worked at the IRS as a tax examiner in many different departments until she retired. 

 She served two missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with Steve. First to Inner City Ogden, and then to the Berlin, Germany Mission, where Steve was in the Mission Presidency. She got to travel with him to most parts of the mission and meet with many missionaries. 

Joy and Steve have lived in their North Ogden home since 1971. She loved to read and has read thousands of books, usually one or two a week. She and Steve have traveled in all 50 of the United States where they walked at least six miles in each state as a member of the American Volkssport Association. They have been lucky to travel to more than 70 foreign countries. For the past 24 years they have also enjoyed spending time at their second home in Mesquite, Nevada. Their grandchildren remember them fondly doing everything together. Joy was an example of love and commitment to her husband whom she loved dearly. 

Joy is survived by her husband, Steve; daughter, Linda (Allen) Francis; son, David (Angie) Jeffs; ten grandchildren, Stephanie (Matt) McCartney, Amanda (Josh) Tenney, Heidi (James) Barnes, Levi (Kaelyn) Jeffs, Rebecca (Chris) Means, Anna Francis, Parker Francis, Holland Francis, Ethan Jeffs, Trevor Jeffs. She is also survived by seven great-grandchildren and her siblings, Faye (David) Wheeler, Julie Allred, Tammy (Wayne) Barrett, Arnold (Angela) Cottrell. She was preceded in death by her two full-term stillborn babies, James and Caroline; her parents; and brother, Howard (Steve Anna) Cottrell.

The family wishes to thank the many who helped love and care for her over the past few years as her health declined, especially her faithful husband Steve. Special thanks to Intermountain Healthcare Hospice for their dedicated help in her final month of life. 

Funeral services will be held on Friday, March 7, 2025, at 11 a.m. at the North Ogden East Stake Center, 900 East 2850 North, North Ogden, Utah. Friends may visit with family on Thursday, March 6th from 6 to 8 p.m. at the church, and Friday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the church. Interment, Ben Lomond Cemetery. Services entrusted to Lindquist's North Ogden Mortuary. 

Services will be live-streamed and available the day of the services by scrolling to the bottom of Joy’s obituary page at: www.lindquistmortuary.com where condolences may also be shared.