Because Frank L. Jones had such a full, interesting and spiritual life it was only natural that his family insist that he write his life story, his autobiography. For the last five years Frank has intermittently written his autobiography. What a paradox it is that only 8 days ago his firm hand completed the final paragraph.
The following obituary is condensed from information and statistics that Frank wrote in his life story. A story he dedicated to his daughters and grandchildren.
Frank Lyman Jones was the sixth of eight children born to Seth and Sovilla Jones. He was born in White Pose, Indiana on the 22nd of March in the year 1885. His parents were honest and hard working people who earned their living by tilling the soil. The same year Frank was born two Mormon elders tracting in Indiana, converted the family to the church. The parents and all children old enough were baptized. As was typical of many of the early converts to the church in those days, their friends turned against them and neighbors persecuted them. This situation made it necessary for the young family to leave Indiana. In 1887, when Frank was only two years old they. sold their beautiful Indiana farm and moved to Southern Colorado to live in a small community composed of families also belonging to the church. It was here that Frank grew up to be a strong handsome young man.
In the year 1904, when Frank was 19 the pioneer spirit acted upon the family and again they moved, this time to the Big Horn Basin. Work was scarce in this area in 1904 and it was necessary for Frank and two of his brothers to go to Montana to seek employment. From 1905 to 1911 Frank was away from home most of the time working with his beloved horses on various roads, canals and railroad projects in Northern Wyoming and Southern Montana. This was changed when in 1911, when Frank was 26 years old, he and his brother Oscar purchased from their father the family farm southwest of Byron. Two years later Frank was called on a mission for the church.
On the way to the mission home Frank stopped at Goshen, Utah to renew his acquaintance with Belle Jenkins, a girl whom he had met 7 years before while they both worked for a grading camp in Montana. Love was rekindled and it was agreed that they would get married at the completion of Frank's mission. He entered the mission home and on October 9, 1913, he was set apart as a missionary by Apostle David O. McKay and left Salt Lake City to Labor in the Southern States Mission. After completing his mission Frank returned to Utah and on the 5th of January, 1916, 44 years ago, Frank and Isabelle Jenkins were married in the Salt Lake Temple.
It was with much joy and happiness that Frank returned to his farm in Byron with his bride.
It was here together in love and devotion they raised their four girls, all toiling and doing their part in their church, their home, their school and their community.
In addition to supporting his family Frank always had time to perform duties in the church. He served as counselor and superintendent in the Byron Sunday School.
Later he was asked to be counselor to Winn Simmons in the Stake Sunday School. In October of 1928 Frank was sustained as counselor to Bishop Archie Graham in the Byron Bishopric. In November 1930 Frank was set apart as Bishop of the Byron Ward by George F. Richards of the Council of the Twelve.
He served as Bishop for six years and even 30 years later, Bishop Frank L. Jones is a revered name.
Yes, Bishop Jones loved and admired all the things of nature, the things of God as he would say. All his life he loved animals, especially horses.
He loved the things of the soil, the handiwork of God. Because of this immense admiration for all these beautiful things, Frank and Belle spent much of his last years together enjoying them.
Yes, only a couple of weeks ago he took his grandchildren to a spot on the canal where their mothers were baptized. He took them to the cemetery where his parents were buried, to the beautiful mountains where he proudly pointed to areas of beautiful timber where years before he had cut logs for his house, his barns and fences. He led them to ice caves and pointed to canyons and odd rock formations and commented on the beauty everywhere.
Yes, only last week his eyes became misty as he pointed out to his grandchildren a distant herd of cattle in a green mountain meadow being trailed by a cowboy mounted on a beautiful horse. He loved life and life loved him. He loved our Heavenly Father and our Heavenly Father loved him. Maybe it was these thoughts in mind that he wrote his final paragraph of his life story. Surely these last sentences of his story were written to his daughters and grandchildren, even while the grandchildren were happily riding Grandpa's saddle horses. How else would he want it?
Bishop Frank Lyman Jones left behind his devoted and faithful wife, four beautiful and talented daughters, 11 healthy grandchildren, two brothers Charles and Gene and many, many faithful friends. All will remember his faithfulness to his church, his Will Rogers type of humor and philosophy, his friendliness, his ability to converse. Yes, even his Chris Nauser stories, to all of us he surely wrote the final paragraph as quoted from his own life story.
Quote: "Throughout my life I have worked hard and long and loved it. As a result of trying to follow the teachings of the Gospel I know the Gospel is true and would advise all men to follow its teachings. It has been my experience and observation that by so doing it will pay off in the end with all things that man needs."
Jack I. Bassett
Given on 13 Sept. 1960
The following obituary is condensed from information and statistics that Frank wrote in his life story. A story he dedicated to his daughters and grandchildren.
Frank Lyman Jones was the sixth of eight children born to Seth and Sovilla Jones. He was born in White Pose, Indiana on the 22nd of March in the year 1885. His parents were honest and hard working people who earned their living by tilling the soil. The same year Frank was born two Mormon elders tracting in Indiana, converted the family to the church. The parents and all children old enough were baptized. As was typical of many of the early converts to the church in those days, their friends turned against them and neighbors persecuted them. This situation made it necessary for the young family to leave Indiana. In 1887, when Frank was only two years old they. sold their beautiful Indiana farm and moved to Southern Colorado to live in a small community composed of families also belonging to the church. It was here that Frank grew up to be a strong handsome young man.
In the year 1904, when Frank was 19 the pioneer spirit acted upon the family and again they moved, this time to the Big Horn Basin. Work was scarce in this area in 1904 and it was necessary for Frank and two of his brothers to go to Montana to seek employment. From 1905 to 1911 Frank was away from home most of the time working with his beloved horses on various roads, canals and railroad projects in Northern Wyoming and Southern Montana. This was changed when in 1911, when Frank was 26 years old, he and his brother Oscar purchased from their father the family farm southwest of Byron. Two years later Frank was called on a mission for the church.
On the way to the mission home Frank stopped at Goshen, Utah to renew his acquaintance with Belle Jenkins, a girl whom he had met 7 years before while they both worked for a grading camp in Montana. Love was rekindled and it was agreed that they would get married at the completion of Frank's mission. He entered the mission home and on October 9, 1913, he was set apart as a missionary by Apostle David O. McKay and left Salt Lake City to Labor in the Southern States Mission. After completing his mission Frank returned to Utah and on the 5th of January, 1916, 44 years ago, Frank and Isabelle Jenkins were married in the Salt Lake Temple.
It was with much joy and happiness that Frank returned to his farm in Byron with his bride.
It was here together in love and devotion they raised their four girls, all toiling and doing their part in their church, their home, their school and their community.
In addition to supporting his family Frank always had time to perform duties in the church. He served as counselor and superintendent in the Byron Sunday School.
Later he was asked to be counselor to Winn Simmons in the Stake Sunday School. In October of 1928 Frank was sustained as counselor to Bishop Archie Graham in the Byron Bishopric. In November 1930 Frank was set apart as Bishop of the Byron Ward by George F. Richards of the Council of the Twelve.
He served as Bishop for six years and even 30 years later, Bishop Frank L. Jones is a revered name.
Yes, Bishop Jones loved and admired all the things of nature, the things of God as he would say. All his life he loved animals, especially horses.
He loved the things of the soil, the handiwork of God. Because of this immense admiration for all these beautiful things, Frank and Belle spent much of his last years together enjoying them.
Yes, only a couple of weeks ago he took his grandchildren to a spot on the canal where their mothers were baptized. He took them to the cemetery where his parents were buried, to the beautiful mountains where he proudly pointed to areas of beautiful timber where years before he had cut logs for his house, his barns and fences. He led them to ice caves and pointed to canyons and odd rock formations and commented on the beauty everywhere.
Yes, only last week his eyes became misty as he pointed out to his grandchildren a distant herd of cattle in a green mountain meadow being trailed by a cowboy mounted on a beautiful horse. He loved life and life loved him. He loved our Heavenly Father and our Heavenly Father loved him. Maybe it was these thoughts in mind that he wrote his final paragraph of his life story. Surely these last sentences of his story were written to his daughters and grandchildren, even while the grandchildren were happily riding Grandpa's saddle horses. How else would he want it?
Bishop Frank Lyman Jones left behind his devoted and faithful wife, four beautiful and talented daughters, 11 healthy grandchildren, two brothers Charles and Gene and many, many faithful friends. All will remember his faithfulness to his church, his Will Rogers type of humor and philosophy, his friendliness, his ability to converse. Yes, even his Chris Nauser stories, to all of us he surely wrote the final paragraph as quoted from his own life story.
Quote: "Throughout my life I have worked hard and long and loved it. As a result of trying to follow the teachings of the Gospel I know the Gospel is true and would advise all men to follow its teachings. It has been my experience and observation that by so doing it will pay off in the end with all things that man needs."
Jack I. Bassett
Given on 13 Sept. 1960