Anna Mae Haynie Jensen's Obituary
Anna Mae Haynie White Jensen
Anna Mae Haynie White Jensen was born in Manassa, Colorado on December 13, 1932 to Clelland Haynie and Zella Estella Holman Haynie. Anna was the 7th of 10 children; 7 boys and 3 girls. She started school at age 5 in the Manassa schoolhouse and graduated Salutatorian of her 8th grade class. She attended high school there and graduated at the age of 17, in 1950.
Since there was no money for college, Anna went to work at Walgreen’s in a larger town called Alamosa. Later on she began working as a telephone operator for Mountain Bell Telephone Company. She worked for Mountain Bell on and off for many years, in Alamosa and Denver, Colorado, and also in Salt Lake City, Utah. Eventually retiring with 22 years of service.
Maintaining ties with her brothers and sisters was always important to her. Even as they grew to adulthood, married and moved away, she made certain that they stayed connected, and got together as often as they could.
A few months after graduating from high school she married LaVoy Glen White from Sanford, Colorado, on October 21, 1950. Anna and LaVoy had four children, Patricia Ann (born 1955), Sandra Kay (born 1957), Steven (August 11 - 12, 1960), and Gary Wayne (born 1962). The family moved several times in Colorado, living in Alamosa, Colorado Springs, and Sanford.
They were living in Sanford when Anna and one-year old Gary survived a serious automobile accident. Anna had both feet, one leg, and her right arm broken. Gary suffered head, liver, and spleen injuries and was not expected to live. Both survived and were healed, although Anna’s legs caused her pain for the rest of her life.
The family later moved to Salt Lake City where Anna again worked for the telephone company, along with raising and caring for her young family. Because of her work schedule she was not always able to attend church or be involved in activities, but she made certain that her children were there every Sunday, and fully engaged in their youth programs.
Their family moved to Arvada, Colorado in 1970, where she continued to work for the telephone company, and served in many church callings. Anna and LaVoy divorced in 1975, and the family moved away. Patricia and Sandra were both attending BYU in Provo, Utah at that time, so Anna and Gary moved to Orem, Utah to live with her sister Lorraine Thayne and their mother Zella Haynie.
She continued to work for the telephone company in Utah and enjoyed being close to her mother, sister, and the many nieces and nephews growing up in the area. It was during this time that Anna enjoyed a long-distance courtship with Walter LeGrande “Scotty” Jensen from Sanford. The two had know each other for years, but it was at this time that their relationship became more serious and led to their marriage and sealing in the Provo, Utah Temple on May 20, 1977.
They went back to Sanford and lived in the home Walter was born in until 2004. Walter raised alfalfa, hay, and cattle, while Anna lovingly cared for their gracious Victorian home, upgrading and improving it inside and out. She continued to work at Mountain Bell in Alamosa until her retirement. She was also happily active in church and civic events during that time and loved her associations with so many relatives and families in the area.
A crowning event for the local communities every year was the annual 24th of July celebration, honoring the early members of the Church who helped colonize the area. The towns had parades, field games, breakfasts, barbeques, dances, and a pageant celebrating the rich heritage of the area. The big building on the Jensen property always housed 2 or 3 of the elaborate floats for the parades, and Anna loved to help design and build some of them. She also helped write and direct two of the town history pageants. These celebrations were the joy of her life.
Her children and grandchildren found visiting Sanford on those occasions, and on so many of the holidays, to be a magical and joyous time. She always provided such yummy food and good times in that wonderful old home while they were visiting with their Grandma and Grandpa Jensen. Strong bonds of continuing love and the importance of family were forged there.
Scotty and Anna left The Valley to serve in the South Carolina Columbia Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints from April, 1984 through October, 1985. When they returned home they served for 2 years as temple workers in the newly built Denver Colorado Temple. They would stay with Patricia and her husband and children for the one week per month that their temple calling required.
In 2004, as Scotty began to develop Alzheimer’s, they determined to move to Utah where more care choices and more family support was available. Walter passed away in 2006, and Anna made beautiful homes for herself in Belle Monet Condominiums (Pleasant Grove), Cove Point Independent Living(Provo), and finally The Charleston Assisted Living Community (Cedar Hills).
While living in Pleasant Grove, she served at the Provo, Utah Missionary Training Center acting as an investigator to help the missionaries practice teaching. In every place she lived, she made lifelong friends while holding fast to the loving relationships from her past, and her priceless family.
Loving and serving family, friends and strangers in need was the driving force of her life. Her goal was to always serve wherever she could. It was a frustration to her, in the last months of her life, that her mind and body limited her ability to do that, but she was deeply grateful for the loving kindness show to her. Nothing gave her more joy than spending time with the people she loved.
Anna was preceded in death by her infant son (Steven White), her husband (Walter Jensen), eight siblings (LaVor Haynie, Tommy Haynie, Sheldon Haynie, Dan Haynie, Lorraine Thayne, Edsel Haynie, Willis Haynie, Colleen Cunningham) and one granddaughter (Kristyn Zenger).
She is survived by Patricia White Zenger (Paul), Sandra White Heaton (Gary), Gary Wayne White (Terrilyn Cluff), 12 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren, her brother (James Haynie), and many beloved nieces and nephews.
Her testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and the promise of having her loved ones with her forever, were the guiding force of her life.
What’s your fondest memory of Anna?
What’s a lesson you learned from Anna?
Share a story where Anna's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Anna you’ll never forget.
How did Anna make you smile?