Zona Russell Jensen

Zona Russell Jensen, age 91, peacefully returned home on Wednesday, October 21, 2020 in Layton, Utah, surrounded by family. She was born January 6, 1929 in Hurricane, Utah to Ellis Alonzo and Estella Roundy Russell. She was the fourth of nine children. In her childhood and youth, she enjoyed the outdoors, sports, picking fruits and vegetables and singing with her family. On August 12, 1949 she married Omer K. Jensen in Hurricane, Utah. They were sealed March 29, 1951 in the St. George LDS Temple. Her husband, Omer, preceded her in death on August 1, 1989.

Zona lived most of her life in Mesquite. She loved the valley and the people in it. For many years, she worked at JL Bowler’s Department Store, which later became Ace Hardware. She loved music and was a talented soprano. She participated in many church and community choirs and directed church choirs over thirty years. She also loved to read and do temple and family history work. She was an ordinance worker in the St. George LDS temple for many years and served two full time missions for her church, one in Baton Rouge, LA and the other in Salt Lake City, UT. Zona was a hard worker and physically strong. She enjoyed gardening, quilting and even played softball into her sixties. She enjoyed the association of special friends and loved to laugh and tease with them. She looked for opportunities to serve others and quietly and inconspicuously went about doing good. Zona was very patriotic and openly expressed her love for the United States of America and it’s flag. Whenever she heard the Star Spangled Banner, or other patriotic songs, she would quickly join in and was often moved to tears. She loved to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. She felt so lucky and blessed to have been born in America.

More than any other quality or interests, Zona will be remembered as a devoted disciple of Jesus Christ, a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, a woman of great faith and fortitude, and a loving mother and grandmother. Her exemplary life of strength, devotion and service to others blessed many. She will be missed, but her influence for good will live on in the hearts of those privileged to know her.

Survivors include three sons: Courtney (Jolene) of Littlefield, AZ; Eric (Paula) of Mesquite, NV; Alex (Jami) of Layton, UT; eleven grandchildren; 18 great grandchildren; sister, Rayola (Lanis) Allgood of Spanish Fork, UT and brother, Bruce (Donna) Russell of Mt. Pleasant, UT. She was preceded in death by one daughter, Candace Brown; three brothers, Laurel, Collins and Dale; three sisters, Lucille, Linda and Annita. Funeral services will be held Friday, October 30, 2020 at 11 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Mesquite Stake Center, 100 N. Arrowhead Lane, Mesquite, Nevada. Visitation will be from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. prior to services at the chapel. Interment will follow in the Mesquite City Cemetery. Friends and family are invited to sign our online guest book at www.virginvallleymortuary.com.