Jerome Child Hainsworth

Jerome Child Hainsworth (Jay), husband, father, brother, uncle, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away on July 16, 2024, at age 94, from causes incident to age.

Jay was born on October 3, 1929, to Kenneth Morris Hainsworth and Mima Jane Child Hainsworth. He loved his parents very much and talked often about the great influence for good they had had on him and others. He grew up primarily in Portland, Oregon, with two brothers and three sisters. He enjoyed the Portland area and was very involved in Church and school activities.

Jay loved the gospel of Jesus Christ and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He went to Brigham Young University, where he majored in political science and took missionary preparation classes. He was well prepared for his two-year mission to Texas, where he was a leader and an effective missionary.

When he returned to BYU, he met Norma Parrish, a freshman from Centerville, Utah. After their first date, they were constantly together, and they were married in the Salt Lake Temple on June 4, 1954. They recently celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. Jay and Norma loved each other very much and together raised eight children, creating a home filled with love, laughter, beloved traditions, hard work, and strong faith in Jesus Christ.

After graduating from BYU, Jay taught seminary in Heber and Bountiful, Utah, living for most of this time in Centerville, Utah, on the Parrish farm established by Norma's pioneer ancestors. For three summers, Jay commuted to BYU to get his master's degree. Then, in 1964, he and Norma moved their five children to BYU married student housing so he could get his PhD in education. This was a difficult thing for him to do, but it was a happy time for the family and led to a wonderful career.

In 1967, the family moved to Murray, Kentucky, where Jay worked for 32 years as a professor of education at Murray State University. During these years, he taught many future teachers and served as the director of student teaching. He designed and implemented innovative teaching programs in the region. He loved to teach and was an excellent teacher.

In Murray, the Hainsworth family became a strength to a very small branch of the Church. Jay served as branch president, a member of the stake presidency, and a patriarch for many years, as well as building the Church in Kentucky in many other ways. He was beloved by the Church members he served. He came to love the natural beauty, history, and people of Kentucky.

In 1999, Jay retired, and Jay and Norma built a home on the Parrish farm property, surrounded by family members. This home and property were a happy gathering place for children and grandchildren. Jay was an ordinance worker in the Bountiful Temple for 22 years, and he served faithfully in Centerville as a patriarch and in other Church callings.

Jay loved to spend time in the natural world and share this world with his family. He was an excellent skier and enjoyed hiking and camping with his family. He loved to travel with his family, showing them the history and beauties of this world. He was a lifelong student of Church history and doctrine and was a fountain of knowledge on these subjects. He loved his extended family and worked hard to maintain relationships and to document and share the inspiring lives of his ancestors.

He was a rock of love and faith to his family. We will miss him more than we can say, but we know that we will live together again in love and happiness.

Jay is survived by his wife, Norma; his children Susan, Stanley, Gary (Sue), Reed (Becky), Dean (Lorie), Karen (Keith), Ken (Heather), and Boyd (Genean); his brother Don (Olivia); 32 grandchildren and almost 38 great-grandchildren; and many loving extended family members.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, July 20, at 11:00 a.m. at the Rowland Way LDS chapel, 610 North Rowland Way, Centerville, Utah. There will be a viewing before the funeral from 9:30 to 10:30 at the church. Interment will be in the Lehi City Cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to smiletrain.org.

**Jerome Hainsworth Funeral Service 7/20/24: There were severe network issues at the church building that we were unable to resolve. We will not be posting a livestream video. We apologize for the inconvenience.**