Mildred Jones

Mildred Salisbury Jones

July 28, 1927 ~ September 29, 2016

On September 29, 2016, our beloved mother, Mildred Salisbury Jones, finally had her chance to see "the northern route" and passed away from infirmities incident to age. She was born July 28, 1927 at the family’s home in Cache Junction, Utah, to LeRoy Gibbs and Gwennie Blanchard Salisbury.

Mildred graduated from North Cache High School in 1945. Motivated by her desire to serve her country during the war, she enrolled in the Dee Nursing School in Ogden, participating in the US Cadet Nurses Corps, graduating in 1948 as the class president. Mildred served as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Northern California Mission.

On June 27, 1950, she married Edwin B. Jones in the Logan LDS Temple. They lived in Michigan for 35 years, beginning in East Lansing where Mildred worked as a nurse in the polio hospital while Ed pursued and received a Ph. D. at Michigan State. They later moved to the Detroit area where the church members became their family.

Mildred and Ed raised their five children in Michigan. Mildred was a wonderfully loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was a loyal and devoted friend and a wonderful cook. Her family and others loved her baked bread, doughnuts, and pies. She even baked over 100 loaves of bread for one church event.

Mildred was very devoted to her church, serving in all of the women’s auxiliaries, as a temple ordinance worker in the Ogden Temple, and as the Temple Matron in the Chicago Temple. In Michigan she served for a time in the office of LDS Social Services. She also served as a medical advisor for the Kennewick Washington Mission. Most importantly, she lived the gospel daily in private devotion and service to others.

Mildred often expressed deep love and gratitude for her parents and grandparents. A member of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, Mildred had a great appreciation for her pioneer heritage and for her ancestors.

Mildred watched over a large library and had a great love for the scriptures and other good books which she studied faithfully. She memorized many scriptures and used them as she counseled family. She loved serving, frequently opening her home and heart to others. She played the piano, especially for her husband and anyone who loved to sing. She supported her husband in many work and church functions, often putting together great meals on short notice.

In the past several years, even as Alzheimer’s robbed her of her memory, her devotion to following Christ and serving others showed through as she became even more grateful and loving. Mildred cherished her husband and family and friends. She will be deeply missed.

She is survived by her children: Rick (Maggie) Jones, West Haven; Kaplin (Lesley) Jones, Grand Rapids, MI; Gaye Willis, Juneau, AK; Gwen (Roger) Connors, Alpine, UT; and Ran (Lisa) Jones, West Haven; 20 grandchildren, and 25 great-grandchildren (so far). Also surviving is her sister Julia (Vaughan) Rigby, Midvale, UT and her dear sisters-in-law Glenna Yancey, Cleone Folkman, Rae Meyer and Peggy Salisbury. Mildred is preceded in death by her husband, parents, brothers Ivan, Darwin, Lyman, George, and Grant, and son-in-law, K. Scott Willis.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, October 8 at 11 am at the Kanesville Stake Center 4555 West 4000 South, West Haven. The family will meet with friends on Friday, October 7, from 6-8 pm at Lindquist’s Roy Mortuary 3333 West 5600 South, Roy and Saturday from 9:30-10:30 am at the Kanesville Stake Center.

Interment, Lindquist’s Washington Heights Memorial Park, 4500 Washington Blvd.

The family thanks the staff and nurses at Lotus Park Assisted Living Center for their kindness and love in caring for Mildred and appreciates those who served her in the Park Branch.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to the LDS Humanitarian Fund.