Mae LaVyrle Jones

LaVyrle was born third in a family of eight to Blaine and Pearl Jones in Roosevelt, Utah on April 3, 1937. She passed away on Thursday, September 26, 2024 in Burley, Idaho. She was 87 years of age. Before she was a year old her parents moved to a farming community in Paul, Idaho. She grew up knowing farm life. She learned to use a hoe and thinned and weeded sugar beets much of many summers. In the fall, school was dismissed to harvest potatoes which was picked up by hand and put into gunny sacks. She later would share how grateful she was for discipline learned while growing up. She was an avid softball player and truly loved the sport in her teen years. LaVyrle graduated from Heyburn High School after which she attended Ricks College and BYU Provo where she graduated in 1960 with a degree in Elementary Education. After graduation she served an LDS mission in Uruguay. She loved her mission and was instrumental in finding many converts. As a teacher LaVyrle blessed many young people’s lives in Utah, California, and in her hometown, Burley, Idaho. She later moved to Rexburg, Idaho and taught in rural schools for several years. She converted her garage into a private classroom and left the public school system to teach struggling elementary students for approximately 10 years. In September 2002 her private school, Shumway Academy was completed next to her home and she moved into the new building. Her dedication to teaching was unmatched. LaVyrle could teach any child to read with her unique phonics program. There wasn’t any child that could not learn to read under her program. She shared her ukulele and helped students make puppets. The lives of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln were always included in her curriculum. Her extensive book collection was shipped to a school in Africa in 27 boxes. She also loved gardening and flowers. LaVyrle loved the gospel of Jesus Christ and held many positions serving her Father in Heaven. She was still sharing the gospel to her end days with anyone that would listen. She also had a beautiful singing voice she willingly shared for many years. She will lovingly be remembered.

Surviving are her seven siblings. Neldon (Riitta) Jones, Kaysville, Utah. Delores Birch, Rexburg, Idaho. Gayleene Jones, Salt Lake City, Utah. Lucille Wayment, Paul, Idaho. Ray (Renee) Jones, Farmington, Utah, Irwin (Judy) Jones, Paul, Idaho and Cloy (Evelyn) Jones, Heyburn, Idaho. She is preceded in death by her parents, Blaine and Pearl Jones are deceased.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, October 2, 2024, at the Henrys Fork Stake Center 1508 W 3000 N Rexburg, ID. Viewing for family and friends will be held from 9:30-10:45 a.m. prior to the services are the church. Services will conclude with burial at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, October 3, 2024, at the Riverside Cemetery, Heyburn, ID. Services are under the direction of Hansen Mortuary.