Ruth Jones
April 24, 1932 – April 17, 2024

Emma Ruth Jones (AKA “Ruthie”) left this world on Wednesday, April 17, just a week short of her 92nd birthday. She was born on April 24, 1932. Her parents were Don Burton and Ione Henderson Burton. She had 2 younger sisters, Donna Mae and Barbara Alene.

Ruth grew up during the Great Depression when life was demanding. She learned the value of hard work and sacrifice. As a teenager she met a young man from Malad, Fay Jones. They were married in 1947. They were blessed with 7 rowdy kids: Gary Don, Larry, Hal, Lance, Buddy, Anita, and Layne.

Ruth and Fay later divorced. Ruth worked hard in many jobs to help provide for her family. She was self-sufficient and skilled at many things: She painted houses, both inside and out. She cleaned and was a skilled wallpaperer. Eventually she got a job with the postal service and worked for them in Pocatello until she finally retired.

Ruth lived in Downey all her life. She loved the mountains and the countryside. She drove her kids over the “thrill hills” and loved stopping to explore interesting places. She loved exploring old abandoned buildings and she never met a cave she wouldn’t explore (as long as one of the kids went in first.) She climbed hills with her friends and went nordic skiing on Downey backroads. She loved old mining towns and just being in the hills.

Ruth loved to paint pictures. She loved music. She learned to play the piano from her grandmother, Ruth Henderson, who was always special to her. She loved to read. 2 a.m. might find her awake finishing a novel. She loved doing puzzles, both jigsaw and crossword, and she really loved playing cards when her kids or grandkids would come to visit. Everyone loved her lemon cake and she loved ice cream with lots of topping.

But mostly she loved spending time with her family. Her house was always open to everyone. She was always glad to see you when you came to visit. Her house was a lot of fun and there was nowhere in it the grandkids couldn’t explore. There was nothing so valuable they couldn’t play with it. Everything someone gave her had a lot of meaning to her. She filled her house with things she couldn’t part with because someone special had given it to her. Each thing had a story and a meaning to her. Her only concession to vanity was that she loved wearing her earrings.

She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and held various callings during her life.

Ruth was a sweet and special lady and she brought so much love into the world.

She was preceded in death by her parents, sisters: Donna Mae Hodges and Alene Charters, sons: Gary (Marsha), Lance, and Buddy (Bonnie), and one great grandson, Peyton. She is survived by sons: Larry (Vicki), Hal (Kathy), Layne, and daughter Anita.

Funeral Services will be held on May 8 at 11 a.m. in the Downey Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. A viewing will be held prior to the services at 9:30 a.m.