Darrell Jones

Darrell Dansie Jones passed from this earthly realm on February 1, 2025. His heart and body just wore out and he was ready to go to his heavenly home. He had been under the care of the Villa, in Roosevelt.

Today the world lost a very good man. He had an inner quietness, strength and a giant spirit that was felt by those who knew him.

Darrell was born January 7, 1945, in Maeser, Utah, to Issac Allen Jones and Aleatha Dansie. His birth was in a cabin very close to the home he has lived in for 46 years. The original family home burned to the ground when his was 5 years old and was rebuilt. His parents both proceeded him in death, as did his half-sister Betty Jean Dansie. She passed when she was one year old.

He married Debra Hicks, in April 24, 1969, later they were sealed in the SL Temple, they later divorced. From that marriage came into their lives two wonderful children, Cindy and Jason (JJ).

He married Phyllis Caldwell Harward on November 10, 2001, in the Mt. Timpanogos Temple, for time only. With that marriage three step children came into Darrell’s life, Terry, Todd and Trisha.

Darrell was a very steady, hardworking man. As a boy he helped his dad on their small farm. He worked summers helping with haying for neighbors. He spent many years working shoulder to shoulder with his father. He learned many life lessons while working closely with his dad that he used throughout his life. Growing up the Jones farm required hard work from daylight to dark. They lived off the land. Darrell enjoyed working with the horses, cows, his dogs and seeing things grow. He was a “horse and dog whisperer”. All animals trusted him.

He attended Maeser Elementary, Vernal Jr. High, and Uintah High School class of 1963.

As a young man he enjoyed playing baseball, basketball and wresting. As an adult he discovered golf and enjoyed time on the golf course. He had a dream to play a round of golf at Pebble Beach and in 2015 that dream came true. He played Pebble Beach and Candle Stick golf courses.

During his high school years, he found himself playing roles in many high school plays. He was an actor at heart. He loved bringing a character to life. For many years he acted in Community Theater and at Bottle Hollow Resort Dinner Theater.

As a teenager he worked at the A & W Drive In. for Pudge and Beverly Merkley. That is where he met Phyllis. The Invite to the Jr. Prom came from them working together.

Standard Saddle Tree is another unique place he worked. He cut and sanded the wood parts of a saddle tree. The completed trees then had wet raw hide sewn over the wood. When they were dry, they made a custom, sturdy form for the leather to be attached. Many of those saddles are still in use today.

The mountains called his name and he spent 39 years working in the timber business. He was a master sawyer who could fall a tree in the exact place he wanted it to land. He owned his own skidders and logging trucks. He worked tree sales from the LaSalle Forest to the Ashley Mountains. He loved the solitude and beauty of working in nature.

Darrell was a master mechanic; he could fix anything, without extra parts at the end of the project. He drove trucks across country and did heavy equipment demolition work.

Darrell worked for Gary and Wayne Simper doing welding and handy man projects. Then he was reading gas wells in Colorado for Wayne.

While single, dancing began a new hobby and Darrell and 3 or 4 ladies would travel to the Wasatch front most weekends to dance to live music. Rain, shine or snow, off the group would go to find the best dance floor and music. One of his goals at these dances was to see that every lady was asked to dance. He didn’t want any one going home not having enjoyed the singles dances.

Murray Art Center had a live band. One weekend Darrel drove to the Murray Arts Center and low and behold his prom date of 39 years ago, Phyllis, was there with friends. They danced together and he offered to drive her home to Orem. Great story ask Phyllis for the details. That was in August 2001 and they married in November 2001. They just celebrated their 23rd wedding anniversary.

When Darrell and Phyllis were married, he ordered his first passport. They traveled to Egypt, Israel, Cancun for 10 years, and went on a cruise. Plus enjoyed 4 church history tours.

They both worked for Scott Bingham at Basin Industries for several years. Darrell was a site demolition expert and truck driver. Phyllis was the office manager and dispatcher. They left Basin Industries to go on an 18month mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The call was to Nauvoo, IL mission. That mission fit them to a T. There were horses, wagons, oxen, singing, dancing and acting for Darrell and 220 acres of lawn to mow for Phyllis, plus telling historical stories in the homes and businesses in old Nauvoo. They acted together in a cast several nights a week at the Cultural Hall in a play every week.

Darrell was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. His testimony was strong and sure. His advice for all members of the family would be to live the gospel of Jesus Christ with a true and honest heart. He and Phyllis were ordinance workers in the Vernal and Nauvoo Temple for 20 years. They also served for a year at the Vernal Cannery, as service missionaries. Among his many callings were High Priest Group Leader, the ward cannery specialist, a gospel doctrine teacher, primary teacher and most recently Temple Preparation teacher with Phyllis and Galyn and Lila Oaks.

Darrell and Phyllis were leaders in the Juuva Health and Wellness business. He has mentioned to many people that he felt he would have died a few years ago with out the Juuva products.

Darrell is survived by his wife Phyllis, Cindy (Brett) McPherson, Jason (JJ) (Stephanie) Johnson, Terry (Trisha) Harward, Todd (Mitzi) Harward, Trisha (Kirk) Larson, 25 grandchildren and many great grandchildren and some great great grandchildren. He also has a living brother Floyd Jones.

Visitation will be on Friday, February 7, 2025, 6 to 8 pm at the Maeser Stake Center, 2745 W 1000 N, Vernal, UT. Also there will be a short visitation from 9:00 am to 9:45 AM at the Maeser Stake Center. The services to celebrate his life will be held at 10:00 am at the Maeser Stake Center.

Burial will be in the Maeser Fairview Cemetery, under the direction of Blackburn Mortuary.

Thank you to the staff at the Villa in Roosevelt for the care they gave Darrel in his final days on this earth.

Instead of flowers, consider making a donation to cover funeral expenses, to the Blackburn Mortuary.

A cowboy's heart, a gentle soul

Left this earthly realm, his journey whole

Darrell Jones, a man of the land

With a legacy, that will forever stand

Born in Maeser, Utah's rugged ground

He worked the farm, with his father's hand around

He learned to ride, to rope and to brand

A true cowboy, with a heart so grand

He loved the mountains, the forests so tall

He worked the timber, with a master's call

A sawyer, a mechanic, with hands so strong

He could fix anything, and right a wrong

He danced under stars, with a heart so light

He loved to act, to bring characters to life

He traveled the world, with Phyllis by his side

A partner, a friend, a love that would not subside

He served his church, with a heart so true

A missionary, a teacher, with a spirit anew

He loved his family, with a heart so wide

A father, a husband, a grandfather, with a love inside

His heart and body, wore out with time

But his spirit remains, forever divine

He's gone to his heavenly home, to rest and to roam

But his memory stays, forever in our home

So let's celebrate, his life so bold

A cowboy, a gentleman, with a heart of gold

Darrell Jones, a man we'll never forget

A life well-lived, a legacy we'll always beget.