Don Merlyn Jones

Don Merlyn Jones, age 90, of Aurora, Colorado, passed away Friday, December 13th, 2024 at his home. 

A viewing will be held at 9:30 am on December 21st, 2024, with funeral services following at 11:00am at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints located at 3101 S. Flanders St. Aurora, CO 80013 with President Matthews presiding. 

Don was born December 5th, 1934 in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Lawrence Ahaz Jones and Alice (Taylor) Jones. Having served in the Korean War, Don was proud to be a US Marine. Afterward, he graduated from Henager Business College. The toy distribution business brought him to Colorado, and he later became an insurance agent, manager, broker and agency owner working for New York Life and then Beneficial Life Insurance Company. He was a member of the Million Dollar Round Table. Through continuing education, he still held his insurance credentials at the age of 90, which he just renewed for 2025. He received the Gordon B. Hinkley Award for service. Besides owning his own insurance agency, he also was a rental property owner for many years. 

Don was united in marriage to LaRae Shirley McDonald on October 19th, 1952, in Eli, Nevada. They were blessed with five children. Their family was sealed together in the Salt Lake City Temple in 1965.

He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, where he served many callings over the years, including bishop, stake presidency counselor, stake patriarch, and in the Denver Temple as a sealer. 

Survivors include his children, Randy (Barbara) Jones and Michele (Malcolm) Hunt; 15 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; and 2 great-great-grandchildren. 

He was predeceased by his wife, Shirley; parents; siblings, Lorna, Dorothy, Pearl, John, Larry, and Alice; sons, Shaun and Lance; and daughter, Stephanie. 

Graveside services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, December 24, 2024 at the Bountiful Memorial Park, 2224 South 200 West, Bountiful, Utah.