Gerald Edward Jones' Obituary
Gerald Edward Jones was born on June 20, 1933 in Gettysburg, South Dakota to Otis and Alma Jones. He attended the University of Utah before serving as a missionary in the North Central States Mission (1952-54). He transferred to Brigham Young University where he met his wife, Joyce Lindstrom. They were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on May 16, 1956. After graduating BYU, Dad taught for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Church Education System. Dad received a Master’s Degree in 1961 and a PhD in the History and Philosophy of Religion in 1972, both from BYU.
While starting their family, Dad taught seminary in St. John's Arizona, Tooele, Grantsville and Provo, Utah and Rexburg and Pocatello, Idaho. He then began teaching at the Institutes at Idaho State University, (Pocatello) the University of Wyoming (Laramie), UC Berkeley, Stanford and Yale. He retired from the Church Education System in 1995.
Dad was an unassuming man who had amazing life experiences. In his various journeys he met the Pope, the chief Imam of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Patriarch of Constantinople, Jewish leaders in Israel, Sikh leaders in India and Coptic leaders in Egypt. He took classes from Paul Tillich and Alan Watts and rubbed shoulders with Lowell Bennion, Sterling McMurrin, Truman Madsen, Eugene England and countless other Mormon scholars.
He has been to over 100 countries, read thousands of books and helped raise his children into independent adults. He was passionate about animals and animal rights which led to the writing of his PhD dissertation “Concern for Animals as Manifest in Five US Denominations” and eventually his book “Animals and The Church”.
He served for many years as a Gospel Doctrine teacher in various wards and always claimed it was his favorite calling. He also served on countless interfaith councils both locally and nationally and sat on the national board of the National Conference of Christians and Jews in the 1980’s.
He loved his South Dakota farming roots and was proud of his Midwestern heritage. He loved Boogie Woogie music, jazz and the blues. (Meade Lux Lewis was a particular favorite) His love of the Gospel was evident through it all. He was a devoted husband who cared for wife until the day she died and has waited patiently for the last 17 years to see her again.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Joyce and daughter, Angela and his parents. He is survived by five children, Eric Otis Jones of Provo, UT, JanEtta (Vince) Price of Provo, Nadine (Klint) Anderson of Pleasant View, UT Sylvia (Randy) Richards of Las Vegas, NV, Gerald Lindstrom (Stephanie) Jones of Roseville, CA and 16 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother Frank Jones of Gettysburg, SD and sister Carol Lowry (David) of Magrath, Alberta Canada. Services will be held at 1:00pmon November 13 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 1289 E. 300 S. Provo, Utah, 84606. In lieu of flowers, please donate to The Mormon History Association (https://donate.mormonhistoryassociation.org/).
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