Nellie Rae Hunt Jones

Nellie Rae Hunt Jones December 28, 1932 – March 15, 2023

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Nellie Rae Hunt Jones, 90, of Henderson Nevada died peacefully on Wednesday, March 15, 2023 due to health complications from being bedridden for many years.

She was born December 28, 1932 in southern Utah to Phyllis Truman Hunt and Royal Samuel Hunt. She was a beloved daughter, friend and sister.

Nellie Rae grew up mostly in St. George, Utah though spent her early years on the Hunt family ranch near Central, Utah. Her father was tragically taken by a ranch hand thirteen days before the attack on Pearl Harbor. She was almost nine years old. From that time forward she lived in St. George. Her mother later married Murray G. Bracken. Nellie Rae was active in sports, dance, theatre, loved poetry, was a beauty queen, popular in school and an all-around lovely person. She met her husband, Stanley Emrys Jones at a sporting event. They were married in the St. George Temple June 20, 1951. Stan and Nellie Rae had four children. Sherri Lyn, Steven Emrys, Nancy Kay and Lorraine Ila.

Battling health issues would be her longest and greatest trial. She initially had some “event” that occurred when she was 16. She was taken to Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City, told she had incurable encephalitis and was sent home to die. She got better, and whatever it was didn’t show up again until the mid to late 1960’s. She started out losing her balance, struggled to walk, used a walker, then a wheelchair and ended up being bed ridden for many years. After many doctors and diagnoses, the verdict was multiple sclerosis.

Her struggles were great, but it didn’t stop her from being extremely active in her community and with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her family was a top priority. She also loved her many friends. She enjoyed genealogy and spent hours with her mother working on their family tree. She wrote several books and histories of her own life and of others she was related to. She collected poems, wrote poems, was an amateur artist and created beautiful pencil drawings. She accomplished more through her struggles than many do unimpeded by such health issues. She was incredible.

The hallmark feature of Nellie Rae was her genuine interest in the lives of others. She made everyone feel like they mattered. She relished visits from people, had an infectious laugh, made others feel like they could overcome obstacles and no one’s life was ever the same after meeting her. She endured health trials with grace, courage and acceptance. She never complained as she lay in bed. She never blamed God. She had a smile on her face for anyone who stopped to visit. She had a strong spirit and a will to live. She wanted to know what was going on in the lives of her family and that kept her going day after day. She cared.

She is survived by siblings, Mary Louise Hunt Hafen (Sherm), Stanford Arthur Bracken (Carol Durfey), Sharon Bracken Springgate (Bill), children Sherri Lyn Haines, Steven Emrys Jones, Nancy Kay Genys (Gintaras), Lorraine Ila Watson (Kelly), 16 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents Phyllis (Truman) and Royal Samuel Hunt, stepfather Murray G. Bracken, siblings Royal Kay and Gai (Graff) Hunt, Darwin Samuel and Kathy (Cooper) Hunt, her husband Stanley Emrys Jones, grandchildren Benjamin Vytautas Genys, Jade Alexandra Genys and Dustin Michael Lamb, great grandchild Donovan Martin and son-in-law Wayne Haines.

Funeral Services will be Saturday, March 18 at the LDS Chapel, 303 South Cholla Street, Henderson, Nevada 89015 at 10:00 a.m. Viewing will be from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. the same day.