Grace Elaine Guymon Jones

Grace Elaine Guymon Jones, beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, passed away peacefully in her home in Provo, Utah, on July 24, 2026, at the age of 97. She leaves a legacy of service, creativity, and tireless dedication, inspiring her family and community through her devotion to faith, family, and friends.

Born October 19, 1928, in Parowan, Utah, Grace was the second child of Jesse Guymon and Golda Gurr and loved the childhood she shared with a brother and two sisters in their small town. She graduated from Parowan High School in 1946, having served as its first yearbook editor in over 20 years. Later, during her years at Brigham Young University, she felt it a privilege to, again, serve as yearbook editor–a role she was proud of for the rest of her life. She received her degree in Elementary Education there in 1950, leaving with a lifelong passion for all things BYU, especially football and basketball.

Grace taught elementary school in Orem, Utah, before marrying Milton “Milt” Bennion Jones on September 8, 1951, in the St. George Utah Temple. They lived briefly in Logan, Utah, and Columbus, Ohio, during Milt’s studies at Utah State and Ohio State. In 1955, they settled in Ukiah, California, where they raised their six children and formed lifelong friendships for over 50 years. In 2005, they moved to Provo, Utah, near Grace’s beloved BYU, where she never missed a BYU football game, cheering them on enthusiastically from her living room throughout the very last months of her life.

Grace’s commitment to her community was admirable. She played a pivotal role in passing one of Ukiah’s first no-smoking ordinances, a trailblazing effort before such laws became statewide in California. A passionate advocate, she helped establish the Mendocino County Chapter of the California Association of Neurologically Handicapped Children in 1972. She served as PTA president three times at her children’s school and as 27th District PTA president, representing that region on the California PTA State Board. Grace also contributed as a substitute teacher, American Cancer Society volunteer, and voting precinct worker.

A lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Grace served with dedication as Stake Public Communications Director for over 30 years, including 14 years as Northern California’s Regional Director, facilitating the publication of hundreds of articles about the Church. She and Milt served as ordinance workers in the Oakland California Temple and completed two full-time missions: Scotland Edinburgh (1991–1993) and Georgia Atlanta (1997–2000), with their son and daughter-in-law, Richard and Jean Jones (serving as their Mission Leaders in the latter). Grace also served as Primary president, Relief Society counselor, ward librarian, and as Activities Committee Chair, where her creativity and organization skills truly excelled.

Grace was a prolific writer. In 2018, at age 90, she completed a decades-long ambition by publishing The Challenge the Book of Mormon Makes to the World: Thirty Conditions Any Writer Must Meet to Produce a Comparable Book, a 305-page work she researched for over 30 years. Her passion for writing was also apparent in her three-year newspaper column, Family Phrases, published as a book in 1987. And, for over 20 years, Grace sent weekly Sunday emails on politics, family news, nutrition, faith, and BYU sports – growing her audience from family only to nearly 200 recipients by her final year (with grandchildren playfully vying for mentions).

Grace’s creativity extended to her hobbies, including sewing, home canning, gardening, landscaping, oil painting, refurbishing furniture, and travel; while her curiosity led her to lifelong learning about health, politics, and faith. At times, she was publicly recognized for her achievements–in 1987, a local paper named her “Mother of the Year”; and in 2001, she was awarded the “Special Recognition Alumni Award” for her extensive community and church contributions by Brigham Young University.

Grace is survived by her husband of 74 years, Milton Bennion Jones, age 100; her six children, Milton Jr. (Francien), Richard (Jean), JoLayne Wood, Tamera Engebretsen (James), Sherilee Drennan (Scott), and Karolyn Butler (Anthony); and her youngest sister, Joyce Hamilton. She also leaves 37 grandchildren and 85 great-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, Jesse Walter Guymon and Golda Gurr; and siblings, Lloyd Guymon and LaVonna Forster.

Grace parented her children with kindness and gentle discipline, teaching them through daily prayers and weekly creative Family Home Evening lessons, fostering a secure home where they learned to work, but were also given freedom to explore and play. Her parenting adages, “Choose your battles” and “You can’t prepare the road for the child; you must prepare the child for the road,” guided her approach. And her motto, “If not me, who?” reflected her commitment to service. Grace’s greatest desire was for her posterity to embrace her cherished faith. Her life was one of hospitality, love of family and country, and of active engagement in her community. Grace’s faith, generosity, and spirit of service will be remembered by all who knew her—a testament to a life well-lived.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 1, 2026, at 11:00 AM at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1960 North 1500 East, Provo, Utah. Visitation will be held prior to the service, from 9:00 to 10:30 AM, at the same location. Graveside services will be held Monday, August 3, 2026, at 1:00 PM at Cedar City Cemetery in Cedar City, 685 North Main Street, Cedar City, Utah. 

For those unable to attend the services in person, you may view the LIivestream HERE