JenaVee Maxwell

JenaVee Maxwell, age 91, beloved mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend, passed away in Farmington, Utah on January 2, 2013.
Jen was born in Enoch, Utah, on February 20, 1921 To John Urie Williams and Ivy Lee Jones Williams. Jen, the third of five children, helped her father and brother with the family farm in Enoch during the ‘20s and ‘30s. Though her sisters did much of the housework and she did much of the farm work, she still became an excellent cook and a meticulous housekeeper.
On September 3, 1940, when she was 19, Jen married her sweetheart Art Maxwell in the St. George Temple before moving to Logan for school, where Art attended Utah State. Daughter Anita was born a year later; son Lee followed, then daughters Paula and Shirleen. Jen was a devoted mother who instilled in her children the value of work and the desire to serve others. Many times her children returned from school to find her baking bread to take to a neighbor, or preparing a meal for someone when she saw a need. In fact, her homemade bread was “part of the marriage contract” and was always a comfort to her family, as well as to the many others who benefitted from it. She continued this type of loving service until she was no longer in her own home.
Jen also opened her home to a number of nieces, nephews, and friends to land for short or long periods. Nephew Terry Cope, who lived with the family for seven years, became part of the fabric of our lives.
Jen was an active member of the LDS Church throughout her life. She taught in the Young Women’s program, where her “Laurels” of many years ago still honor and bless her. She served many years as a Young Women’s President, then as a Ward and Stake Relief Society President. People always loved working with her because of her genuine concern for everyone. She and Art served a mission to Dallas, Texas in 1985-86; they later worked in the Bountiful Temple from its opening in 1994 to 2000.
Jen has made and kept many friends throughout her life, and has added new ones with each place she has lived. Art and Jen became part of a group of eight young married couples in South Salt Lake in the late 1940s that became known as the “Gang”. After many years of dinners, parties, camping trips, and watching children and grandchildren grow up, they are still dear friends, though they are few in number after more than 65 years. The family built a home in Bountiful in 1956 where they lived for 25 years, and where the children grew up with the neighborhood. In 1981, Art and Jen built a home in Farmington near some of their children.
Jen has lived in Country Care assisted living center in Farmington since 2004, where she moved to be with Art during the last four years of his life. She missed him terribly when he passed on. She lived nearly five more years without him, but on January 2, 2013, she died peacefully after a short illness. She will be missed by her extensive family and many friends whose lives she has touched over the years. Special thanks to Greg Barlow, Beth Kesle, and the other employees at Country Care for their love and compassion. Thanks also to Mary Hunt of Symbii Home Health and Hospice for her dedicated service.
Jen is survived by her daughters Anita Major, Paula Jamison, and Shirleen Hayes (Nelson), son Vernon Lee (Carolyn); 20 grandchildren, 69 great-grandchildren, 2 great-great-grandchild; and sisters La Vern McDaniels and Marie Petty. She is preceded in death by her beloved husband, one brother, one sister, and son-in-law Dean Jamison.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 12 at 1:00 p.m. in Farmington South Stake Center, 695 S. 200 E. Friends and family may call from 6-8 p.m. Friday evening at Russon Brothers Mortuary, 1941 N. Main, Farmington, or from 11:00-12:15 p.m. Saturday at the church prior to services. Interment Farmington City Cemetery.