Jensen_Mary_Donna_Jones_29 December 1923
TRACY, Calif. died on Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2010 in Tracy, California, at the home of her daughter, where she and her husband resided for the past 10 years. She was 86 years of age.
She was born in Malad, Idaho, on December 29, 1923, the oldest child of Lillie Jones Jones and Evan E. Jones.
She married Jay Golden Jensen, her high school sweetheart, on Nov. 17, 1948, in the Idaho Falls Temple. Jay and Mary Donna were married for 61 years.
She spent her early childhood in Idaho and Ogden, Utah. In 1939 she moved with her family to Pocatello Idaho where she attended Pocatello High School. She was active in school plays, in debate and in school governing activities, and graduated with highest honors.
She attended the University of Idaho, Southern Branch, located in Pocatello, Idaho. She worked for Dr. Ray J. Davis, organizing and typing his book The Flora of Idaho. In 1944, she entered Brigham Young University. She played leading roles in plays, and was active in debate and oratory, winning national honors, and graduating again with highest honors.
Returning to Pocatello, she taught at Pocatello High School for one year. In the fall of 1947, she joined the faculty of the new Idaho State College I n the Department of English. She was active in the Pocatello community during summers. She directed recreational activities and served on the committee to introduce kindergarten to the public schools, and the mayor’s committee to raise funds for a public swimming pool in Ross Park.
At Idaho State College, and later University, taught various levels of English composition and classes of English, American, Western and World literature. She supervised students teaching English in the public schools. She received her master’s degree from Idaho State University and served as a National Endowment for the Humanities scholar at Ohio State University.
She retired as associate professor emeriti after 41 years of service.
She belonged to several organizations: ISU Gamma Phi Beta, Faculty Women Club, the American Association of University Women, and the Literary Art Guild of Pocatello.
She loved flowers and especially appreciated their beauty and decorated many showers, receptions, weddings, and special occasions, always with an exquisite flair. She wrote poetry her entire life, and thrilled her family and friends with personal poems to celebrate special occasions.
She was a devout member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, where she served in various organizations and taught Sunday School for 25 years.
Mary Donna is survived by her husband, Jay G. Jensen of Tracy, Calif; her son, Jay G. Jensen Jr. and his wife, Janet of Riverton, Utah and their children Steven and Krista Jensen of Riverton, Utah; Michele and Kyle Loveland of Riverton, Utah; Ryan Jensen of Salt Lake City, Utah and Emily Jensen of Orem, Utah; her daughter, Leesa Steels and her husband, Tom, of Tracy, Calif. And their children: Jennie and Jeff Hare of Provo, Utah; Jay T. and Britney Steele of LaHabra, Calif.; Suzanne and Dallas Reynolds of Philadelpha, Pa., Dennis Steele of Tracy, Calif., and Brett Steele of Tracy, Calif.; siblings, Maurene Crandall of Logan, Utah; Evand and Ralpheyn Jones of Bountiful Utah; Dan and Pat Jones of Salt Lake City, Utah; Diane and Bob King of Twin Falls, Idaho; Dennis and Maxine Jones of Fresno, Calif;, and David and Nancy Jones of East Rockaway, N.Y.. She has eight great-grandchildren: Kayla and Gage Jensen, Jackson, Jared and Isabella Hare; Brooke and Cooper Steele, and Sharae Reynolds. She was preceded in death by her infant children, Brett Thomas and Karen Ann; her sister, Helen Harwood and her mother and father.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday September 25, 210 at the Princeton LDS Chapel, 42 Princeton Ave. A visitation will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, September 24, 2010, at Colonial Funeral Home, 2005 S. Fourth Ave., and also one hour prior to the funeral service at the church. Burial will follow services at the Mountain View Cemetery.
Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.Colonial.FuneralHome.com