Malad Valley Family History

By his children 

“Kind, loving, patient, selfless and willing to give service to anyone” are just a few of the words that describe our father, Jay Lynn Stayner. 

He was born on September 29, 1929, to Henry Turner Stayner and Sarah Ann Jones, and was the seventh of eight children. He spent his childhood on the family farm. In his history, he talks of the many fun hours spent working and playing with his brother and sisters there. 

He attended school in Malad. He enjoyed learning and he made friendships that still exist today. In high school, he was active in the FFA program. He really enjoyed this and tells of how it was a good experience and how it helped him on the farm. 

After graduation from high school, he attended Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, for two semesters, then returned home to help with spring planting on the farm. It was then that he writes of making one of the best decisions that he had made to that point, and that was to go on a LDS mission. He served as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1949 to 1951, being called to the Northwestern States Mission. He loved the people that he was able to come in contact with while on his mission, and he has many fond memories of this time in his life. 

When he returned home, he went back to BYU, studying agronomy and animal husbandry. He also enlisted for service to our country in the Air Force through the ROTC program. He always completed all of his duties to the best of his ability and with honor. He remained in service until 1958 when his required amount of time was up. 

On March 19, 1954, Lynn married his sweetheart, Phyllis Woodruff, for time and all eternity in the Logan LDS Temple. The next few years would bless them with six children: Jay, Sheree, Steven, Nancy, Jerry and David. 

After his service in the Air Force he returned home to Malad and the family farm. He also worked at the Sugar Factory in Garland, Utah, during this time. 

From 1968 to 1970 he took classes from Utah State University and received his degree in elementary education. He started teaching at Malad Elementary School in 1971. For the next 22 years he was the teacher that everyone wanted their child to have. He loved teaching and found an adventure with each child. 

He has participated in various plays with the Malad Theater Guild over the years. We think his favorite character to play was Fagan (from Oliver!). He can still remember the song and smiles when he thinks about it. He has also put in many hours with the Community Choir. His talent for acting and singing has provided a lot of entertainment for the community. 

After retiring, he and Phyllis served a year long mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. They loved this experience and have never regretted leaving their family to serve. When they returned, they were called to serve in the Logan LDS Temple, and just like all of the other events in his life, he loved this very much. 

In the years since finishing serving in the temple in 2004, he has occupied his time with pitching horseshoes, helping Steve on the farm, playing the guitar and singing (he has even made some CD’s for his kids), and being Phyllis’ right hand man. 

We love you, Dad, and wanted to give you this tribute because you mean so much to us and many others. Here are our own personal reasons why you are the best dad EVER! 

From Jay: 

I have so many wonderful, wonderful memories of our father. Some stand out more than others. I believe the most memorable ones I think of the most are his teaching moments, one or two which stand out in particular to me. 

His example of what a great husband and companion to my mother is what I hope and have tried to pattern my life after in my relationship with my wife. 

On my 25th birthday, Dad sent me a birthday card with a very long, personal, heartfelt and life-influencing letter inside. In it he detailed my life from when I was born until this, my 25th birthday. He described how he felt about me when I, his first born, came into this world. He continued describing different events in my early life, then through the teenage years, and so on. He told me how he felt about each of these events and how they influenced his life. 

As Dad finished this letter, his closing statement did and does still to this day constantly remind me of what a kind, thoughtful and loving father he is. He said he would always want me to do all that I could to live my life and be the kind of son and example to all that he could introduce as such, “This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.” 

Thank you for being the kind of father I can truly be proud to call my Dad. 

From Sheree: 

Dear Dad, How do I pay tribute to you and the wonderful dad that you are? I thought about expounding on some of your most endearing qualities, such as your gentleness, humility, kindness and integrity, but my mind keeps going back to one of your home movies, which I believe illustrates what is most important to you. 

I’m so grateful that you used your 8mm camera to capture some of our family’s special moments as well as every day happenings. The home move that keeps coming to my mind is one you took in the late summer of 1966. This particular year the crops were especially abundant and our farm looked beautiful! The movie starts out with a shot of a handwritten title, “The Stayner Farm”. Then beautiful fields of alfalfa gently rocking in the summer breeze fill the screen. The alfalfa is followed in turn by fields of barley, oats, corn and lush rows of “Stayner” potatoes. Your tractors, swathers, combines and trucks are all filmed and there are scenes of our cattle, our milk cow and her little calf, our chickens and even our dogs, Boots and Penny. Finally another handwritten subtitle is shown, “Our Best Crop”, which is followed by close up shots of 11 year old Jay, nine year old Sheree, eight year old Steven, seven year old Nancy, four year old Jerry and one month old David. The movie ends with a shot of all of the Stayner kids and their beautiful mom, Phyllis, with baby David in her arms. 

That, to me, says it all! Your family was your number one priority and your number one pride and joy. As a farmer, you invested your hard work into raising good, profitable crops and as a father, you, in your gentle, loving way, invested your love, your time, your faith and your prayers into your family and you continue to do so today. Our family now includes you and Mom, six children, 24 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. We all adore Grandpa and Grandma Stayner and love visiting the farm! 

Dad, I can’t give thanks to you without also giving a special thanks to Mom. Together you have stood beside each other for 60 years and have both given so much to your family and to many others. 

Dad and Mom, I feel so blessed to be part of what you consider to be “Your Best Crop”. Thank you for everything! Love you forever, Sheree. 

From Steve: 

I consider myself to be the most fortunate of all of Dad’s children. I live in Malad, work with him, go to the Drive In with him and get to receive his great counsel in person. I also get to play horseshoes with him every week and even at the age of 84, he can still beat all four of his boys! 

He has always been there for me. He has taught me how to work hard, to be honest and to treat others as you would like to be treated. He has shown me the importance of looking for the good in people and to look past the bad. The lessons he has taught me are priceless. 

I feel blessed to have been able to buy the farm from him, because it is where he taught me so much about being a good person. I have many great memories of the lessons learned from him. 

Dad, I hope you don’t get upset at your children for giving you this tribute in the paper. I know you don’t like recognition, but you deserve it! You’re the best father a child could ask for. Love, your son, Steve. 

From Nancy: 

If someone were to ask me to describe my father, these words would immediately come to mind: “Loving, patient, kind, hardworking, gentle, humble, obedient and faithful”. These qualities are especially evident when it comes to his love for children. One memorable moment occurred during a family reunion as my father was playing the guitar. After singing a few family favorites, his final song was called “Thank God for Kids”. As I watched and heard him sing, pausing at times to continue through his tearful emotions, he sang these words: “Thank God for kids, there’s a magic for awhile; a special kind of sunshine in a smile. Do you ever stop to think or wonder why the nearest thing to Heaven is a child? And when you get down on your knees tonight, thank the Lord for his guiding light and pray they turn out right – thank God for kids.” 

My father’s love for children has always been the embodiment of who he is. I’ve always had a very close relationship with him, and some of my fondest memories growing up involved learning of his gentleness and patience as he taught me the responsibilities of riding and training my horses. Just mentioning my father brings a smile to my face. Throughout my life he has always lifted me up in every instance I’ve talked with him. Never have I heard him speak an unkind word or judged me for past experiences, but he let me use my agency to make my own choices. While he speaks with authority, his voice has always been so soft and tender; anyone can truly feel the love he expresses as his close relationship with God is clearly felt. His steadfast faith has taught my siblings and me how to teach by example and to love unconditionally. With my wonderful mother by his side, they have shared a love for their children that has become instilled in their posterity. How truly I have been blessed and am deeply grateful to have the devoted parents I have, who I love dearly. Thank God for goodly parents – I love you Daddy! Happy Father’s Day, Nancy 

From Jerry: 

Jay Lynn Stayner will always be my hero. He has always been there when I needed him and has been such a great example throughout my life. I have never seen him compromise his beliefs, and his quiet, cheerful demeanor says so much more than any words. 

My father always put the needs of his family before himself. He worked hard and sacrificed so much to take good care of his children. When farming wasn’t enough to support his family, he went back to school and received his teaching degree. I sometimes run into his former students and they tell me that Mr. Stayner was their favorite teacher. 

I don’t remember my dad ever getting angry or losing his temper, even when I ran into his car with the tractor! I know there were times in my youth where I disappointed my dad, but even though I put him through some sad and worrisome times, I knew he always loved me no matter what. 

I respect and love my dad and will be eternally grateful that I was able to be his son. 

From David: 

Thanks for being a great dad. From you I learned to work hard and to be a good dad to my own children. I hope to have many more wonderful memories with you. Happy Father’s Day. I love you, David.