Jeanette Ruth Jarvis

Jeanette (Jeri) Ruth Bowers Jarvis, age 93, died peacefully January 8, 2017 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Jeri was born June 22, 1923 in Salt Lake City to Charles Ernest and Vera Marie Chamberlin Bowers. Jeri attended Uintah Elementary, Roosevelt Junior High and graduated from East High School. After high school she worked for several companies, including the Salt Lake Tribune and the Granite School District.

Jeri met her husband Lee Jarvis, a handsome young soldier from Utah, in San Antonio, Texas, during World War II.  Jeri sang in a female trio, Eddie, Tony and Jeri, that was part of a USO troop.  After corresponding by mail and then courting when they both returned to Utah, they were married May 18, 1946 in the Salt Lake Temple.

Lee and Jeri returned again to San Antonio, Texas, while Lee attended chiropractic school. (Before the war Lee had also served in the Texas Louisiana Mission). After graduation they came back to Utah and raised their seven children in Salt Lake. They also hosted several students in their home at various times, including Vicky, who lived with them for several years, and Sami, a Finnish exchange student.

Mom’s family, the gospel of Jesus Christ, service, music, and acting were her passions. She always had a positive attitude and was a wonderful example of faith, love, and kindness. She served faithfully in many church callings. For eight years Lee and Jeri were hosts on Temple Square and thoroughly enjoyed meeting people from all over the world. After retirement they served three proselyting missions in the United States for the LDS Church.

Music was an important part of family life. All of her children learned to sing and play musical instruments. Jeri appeared in musical and dramatic productions at Kingsbury Hall, Promised Valley Playhouse, Hale Center Theater, Triad Center Theater, Silver Wheel Theater in Park City, the Salt Lake Tabernacle and other venues. She also wrote and directed many roadshows, skits, and dramatic productions for church and civic groups. And together Jeri and Lee taught ballroom and folk dancing in many wards and stakes.

Jeri and Lee loved to travel and took the family on several  road trips across the United States, visiting historic places, national parks, beaches, amusement parks, etc. They also enjoyed going camping with friends and family. And as a couple they traveled to Israel, Egypt, Mexico, Hawaii, South America and Europe.

Jeri was a devoted mother to four daughters and three sons: Ken (Patty), Patricia, Kelly (Ruth), Scott (Jane), Jill, Kathlyn (Tom) Thatcher, and Wendy (John) Hairel. She is also survived by 25 grandchildren and 39 great-grandchildren. Jeri was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her sister Audrey Marie Bowers Arthur, her brother Joseph Harry Bowers and her beloved grandson Christopher Lee Jarvis.  The family would like to think the many caregivers  who assisted in Mom’s care over the past few years.

Funeral services are Saturday, January 14 at 12 noon, Garden Park Ward, 1150 Yale Ave, Salt Lake City. Viewings are Friday, January 13 from 6 to 8 pm at Russon Brothers Mortuary, 255 South 200 East, Salt Lake and on Saturday  from 10:30 to 11:30 am at Garden Park Ward. Interment is in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.