Jean Johnstun Haws

Jean Johnstun Haws, 86, peacefully passed away in her home on August 25, 2022 in Bountiful, Utah. Born on July 23, 1936, in Vernal Utah, she was the only child of George Earl Johnstun and Annie Elizabeth Smith. With 11 sets of aunts and uncles on each side of her close-knit family and many cousins, Jean grew up surrounded by love. In her words, she was an only child, but not a lonely child.

Jean was the valedictorian at her high school and went on to attend BYU, majoring in Home Economics. Her expertise in the culinary arts meant family and friends enjoyed many delicious meals. She left school to marry but returned later when her children were older and graduated in 1972 in Elementary Education.

Jean married Kay Morris Haws in an outdoor wedding ceremony at Jean’s home in Vernal, Utah on June 14, 1958. Their marriage was solemnized in the Salt Lake temple in February 1993. The couple moved to Bountiful in 1960 where they raised their three daughters, Merikay, JaNae, and JoJeanne. Kay and Jean have been married for 64 years and lived in their present home since 1961. We are so thankful for all the wonderful neighbors and friends who have helped our family throughout the years.

Jean had many jobs including working six summers with Kay at the Ute Indian Camp at White River in her early married life. Later she worked for the Utah Tax Commission, Utah Bank and Trust, and several other businesses, but she would want to be known for her favorite job which was homemaker. She was a loving wife, very creative mother, an expert cook, a skilled seamstress, a poet, a gardener, and of course unsurpassed as a lovingly devoted grandmother and great grandmother.            

In addition to her many exceptional talents which she generously shared, Jean is also remembered for her kind heart, pleasant disposition, empathetic generosity, memory for details, especially of people and their relationships (before her memory was dimmed by age), appreciation for beauty, and sense of humor.

She was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many positions, always willing to help others. Jean and Kay were service missionaries from January 2000 to February 2002 working with the homeless and refugees. Jean was also a member of the Bountiful Arts Guild and served as president for many years.

Jean is survived by her husband, Kay M. Haws of Bountiful, UT; three daughters:  Merikay (Jeffrey) Smith of Darnestown, MD; JaNae (John) Urry of Centerville, UT; and JoJeanne (Kim) Wahlquist of North Ogden, UT; ten grandchildren (Marie, Laura, Matthew, Carina, Ryan, Genevieve, Kyle, Brian, Justin, and Cameron) and sixteen great grandchildren. 

The viewing will be held on Saturday, September 3, 2022 at 9:30 a.m. with the funeral following at 11 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Bountiful 27th Ward, 1145 North 200 East, Bountiful, Utah.

Services will be streamed live on the Russon Mortuary & Crematory Facebook page and on this obituary page.  The live stream will begin about 10-15 minutes prior to the service and will be posted below.