ErnaLee Jones

Ernalee Searle Schofield Jones passed away on August 17, 2026, at the age of 86. She was the oldest of five children born to Owen Lee and Erna Searle and grew up in Hunter, now West Valley City, Utah.

Her family lived for a time in a boxcar while her parents built a home on land they had purchased. She attended Cyprus High School and later worked as a data entry and keypunch operator for O.C. Tanner and later retired from Skaggs Alpha Beta. In her younger years, she loved horses and rode with the Silver Spurs.

At 21, Ernalee served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in England. While there, she learned to knit beautifully, adding to a lifelong love of handwork that included crochet, embroidery, crewel work, and cross-stitch.

Ernalee always seemed to have something in her hands and someone in mind. For years, she made dishcloths and scrubbies, delivering them to women in her ward on their birthdays. She bought toys for foster children served by the Justice Center in Tooele and made little blankets to send with them. Even the toy trucks were accompanied by a crocheted blanket. She was a foster mother to a dozen children and, after her mother's stroke, became her full-time, live-in caregiver. She loved to serve. If Ernalee had something she could give, she usually found someone who needed it.

Ernalee married Kenneth Wade Schofield, and they had one daughter, Karen. After Kenneth's death, she married Thomas Jones, with whom she shared 30 years. She was a stepmother to his children, Allyson, Bernice, Julie, Derren, and Terry. Ernalee and Tom ate lunch at Chuck-A-Rama nearly every day, holding hands across the table.

Ernalee began losing her hearing in her late teens and eventually became severely hearing impaired. She bore that difficulty with the same fortitude she brought to the rest of her life. She was tenderhearted and cheerful, with a kind smile and happy, hopeful eyes. She seldom complained, saying simply, "No one wants to hear me complain anyway."

Her faith in Jesus Christ was deep and steady. She lived it most naturally by taking care of people, noticing what they needed, and doing what she could. She used her hands to express her testimony of Christ through the things she made and the way she served.

She had a great heart and was a generous woman. Those who loved her will miss her very much.

Ernalee was preceded in death by her husbands, Kenneth Wade Schofield and Thomas L Jones; her parents; and brothers, Kenneth Marion and Clinton Owen Searle. She is survived by her daughter, Karen (John) Yakovich; brother, Paul (Karen) Searle; sister, Ella-Rene Cannon; and her stepchildren Allyson(Alva) Moore, Bernice Withers, Julie (Steve) Goodenough, Derren (Kathy) Jones,Terry (Carol) Jones. Grandchildren, Tyler (Kristen) Russell, Jaden (Amber) Russell, Tina (Trevor) Brown, and Hemi Yakovich. Step-grandchildren, Allie (Carson) Moser, Ashton Jones, Alisa (Chris) Bhul, Kim (Rob) Thurgood, Tanya Madill, Samantha Jones, Brittany (Joseph) Patterson, Morgan (Ivan) Neilson, Dakota Hepler, Alexis (Jake) Bishop, Corrinda (Jim) Gress, Jenna (Dave) Geringer, Craig Goodenough, Ashley (Tyler) Davies, Jessica (Jacob) Malcovich, Caden (Nola) Jones and many great-grandchildren.

Memorial services will be held on Tuesday August 25, 2026, at McDougal Funeral Home, 4330 South Redwood Road, Taylorsville, Utah. The family will receive friends Monday, August 24, 2026, from 6 - 8 pm and from 10 until 10:45 am prior to the service at McDougal Funeral Home.