Our beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Marilyn Jones Stoddard, passed away peacefully on December 14, 2015 at the Millard Care and Rehabilitation Center in Delta, Utah. We rejoice that she has been reunited with her eternal companion and many other beloved family members.
Marilyn was born February 7, 1927 on a farm at Taylor’s Flat, near Oak City, Utah to Jefferson Hall Jones and Belva Lovell Jones. The family later moved to Sutherland, Utah where her father farmed for several years. She graduated from Delta High School in 1945. She worked at Topaz as a stenographer for the War Relocation Authority. She also worked at Service Drug as a soda jerk. It was there she met her future husband, Stephen Oran Stoddard, on Christmas Eve of 1945. They were married on November 9, 1946 in Nephi, Utah. They were sealed for time and all eternity on November 9, 1965 in the Manti LDS Temple. They started their life together in the Stoddard family home, but later built a new home in Delta by the water tower where they spent the rest of their lives together.
Stephen and Marilyn had six children. Since Steve was a migratory beekeeper and was gone for long periods of time, Marilyn had the majority of the responsibility of raising their children. She genuinely cared for people, especially those in need. She was a good listener and performed special acts of kindness for others. Everyone loved her quick wit and her fun sense of humor.
To help the family in the lean years Marilyn worked various jobs including working as a sewing factory seamstress and as a CNA at the old West Millard Hospital and Care Center.
She had many hobbies, but her favorites were making and selling quilts and doing genealogical research for a multitude of ancestors. She was an active member of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers and the Fine Arts Guild. She also served as a volunteer for the Great Basin Museum, where she loved to share her knowledge of Topaz and Millard County.
She is preceded in death by her husband: Stephen Oran Stoddard; daughter: Katherine Stoddard Smith; her parents; and brothers: Rulon Jefferson Jones, Bryant Stanley Jones and Lyman Hall Jones; sisters: Alice Beth Jones and Helen Jones; sister-in-law: Ruth Erickson Jones. Marilyn is survived by her brother: Sherman Lovell (Merle) Jones; sister-in-law: Lyraine Jones; children: Stephen Edward (Anne), Delta; Debbie (Richard) Shelley, Delta; Patricia (Stephen) Meyers, Idaho Falls, Idaho; Gregory Jay (Miki), Centerville, Utah; Bradley Dean (Joy), Provo, Utah; son-in-law: William D. Smith, Reno, Nevada; 27 grandchildren and 60 great-grandchildren.
The family would like to thank Dr. Smith and the staff at Millard Care and Rehabilitation who gave such loving care to our mother for the last 3 years. We would also like to thank the Delta Third Ward for their compassionate service. We appreciate all those who have cheered her up with visits, calls, letters, and service.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, December 19, at 11:00 a.m. at the Delta Third Ward LDS Chapel, 197 S. 300 W., Delta, Utah. Viewings will be Friday evening, 6:30-8:00 p.m. at Nickle Mortuary, 190 S. Center; and Saturday, 9:30-10:40 a.m. prior to the service. Burial will be at the Delta City Cemetery.