Clifton Ivor Jones

Clifton Ivor Jones, age 88, passed away very peacefully at home in St. George, Utah on April 27, 2026, with his beloved wife, Gracia, beside him.

Ivor was born on June 29, 1937 in St. George, Utah to LaVon L. Jones and Eva M. Iverson, the third of their four boys. He grew up between the hills of Dixie, graduating from Dixie High School and Dixie College. Soon after high school graduation, he went to basic training for the National Guard, but he was never called upon to serve in war. One of his all-time favorite memories was playing the part of Ike Skidmore in the Dixie College production of “Oklahoma!” and he regaled his family throughout his life with the songs from that play. Often his children were awakened in the morning hours with his tenor voice belting out, “Oh, What a Beautiful Morning!”

On December 15, 1956, Ivor married Sherry Hall, and spent the next few decades raising ten children. He set out to become a teacher, but life brought different paths, and he labored hard to provide for his family, usually working more than one job. He worked on dairies and farms, became licensed in artificial insemination, taught school as an aide for a short time, worked for a poultry company as foreman of the chicken catching crew, and learned the trades of laying tile and carpet. Before retirement, Ivor held a job with Washington County School District, and played many roles there. He delivered and managed lunch supplies, worked in the bus garage and warehouse, drove school buses, and taught the new bus drivers. He loved the students on his bus runs, and was the jokester with the “lunch ladies” to whom he delivered the lunch supplies. He became known as “Ivor the Driver.”

After twenty-five years, Ivor and Sherry divorced, and Ivor spent a short time single before meeting Gracia Normandeau Denning. They were married on May 28, 1983, and brought her eight children into his life. Gracia is the second great-granddaughter of Joseph and Emma Smith, which became a central focus of Ivor’s life. Together, he and Gracia spent four decades on a lifelong mission to find and gather their Smith cousins. They traveled the USA and other countries, searching and finding, and Ivor joyed in it. “Ivor the Driver” drove Gracia all over on their travels in the states, and being the driver became a deep-seated part of Ivor’s identity.

Ivor had a “dad joke” sense of humor, freely shared with all in his cheery way.

Ivor was a devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and served in many callings: teacher, ward clerk, Elders Quorum presidency, bishoprics, ward missionary and mission leader, and others. 

Ivor is known for his honesty and integrity, learned from his own father. He was committed to studying the scriptures and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He loved to share it. Family was preeminent in his life, and he loved his ancestors and his descendants deeply.

Ivor is survived by his wife, Gracia Jones, his brother Ross (Annette) Jones, his ten children: David (Janet) Jones, Gary (Lichelle) Jones, Clay Von (Alva) Jones, Aaron (Marie) Jones, Marisa (Hank) Childers, Pam Jones, Lynette Jubilee, Lucia Godfrey, Donnell (Glenn) Leavitt, Jared (Jen) Jones; eight stepchildren: Curtis, Paul, Joy, Alice, Lori, Margaret, Karolin, and David; seventy-two grandchildren, many great-grandchildren and even some great-great-grandchildren. He was proud of them all.

Ivor is preceded in death by his two brothers, Clayton Jones and Elwin Jones, and his sweet grandson, Jay Aidan Jones. Funeral services by Hughes Mortuary: May 1, 2026 viewing at Hughes Mortuary, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. May 2, 2026 viewing at LDS chapel, 166 South Main Street, St. George, 11:00 to 12:30, with 1:00 funeral services. Interment at St. George Cemetery.

• In lieu of flowers, donate to Humanitarian Services of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and use the QR code below:

Or to mail a check, make it payable to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- Day Saints, put on the memo line “Humanitarian Services, in memory of Ivor Jones,” and mail to 1450 N University Avenue, Provo, UT 84604