Marsha Lynn (Brighton) Jones

Marsha Lynn Jones, 73, of Ammon, passed away May 24, 2025, at her home surrounded by friends and family.

Marsha was born May 17, 1952, in Idaho Falls, Idaho, to Hugh Max Brighton and Miriam Louise Johnson Brighton. She grew up on a dairy and potato farm in Ucon, Idaho, and graduated from Bonneville High School. She attended Brigham Young University and Idaho State University where she received a Bachelor’s Degree in Piano Performance and Music Education.

On June 25, 1971, she married Gary Don Jones in the Salt Lake City Temple. Throughout their lives together, they lived in various cities in Idaho, including Downey, Bancroft, Burley, Pocatello, and Ammon. They also lived in Bakersfield, California, as well as a few different cities in the Seattle, Washington Area. They had five children and sixteen grandchildren together.

Marsha received numerous accolades and awards for her piano talents, including an award to tour Europe with a group of talented musicians. In college, she trained to play the organ with one of the Tabernacle Choir organists. She was almost always the organist at church from the time she was thirteen years old until the last year before she passed away.

She was also a highly sought after accompanist for everything from opera companies, choirs, professional soloists, as well as church choirs and performers. She was most appreciated by smaller music and opera companies for her ability to play in such a way that they didn’t have to hire an orchestra.

Once her children were in school, Marsha attended the University of Washington where she pursued her Master’s Degree in Education. During this busy time, she was also teaching high school music.

As an adult, she taught herself to play the violin. She worked hard and was able to perform in the Idaho Falls Symphony for several years.

The family moved frequently, which had Marsha working at several different schools throughout her career as a choir, orchestra, and band teacher. In addition, she always taught private piano lessons in her home.

In July 2012, Gary, her husband of 41 years, passed away. During this challenging time, Marsha relied heavily on her Savior as she learned to navigate life on her own. In March 2025, her son, Eli, passed away from pancreatic cancer, which was heartbreaking for her. She was always strong and rarely complained. She had wonderful friends and neighbors who showed her so much love over the years.

She was a lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She loved to serve in the church and spend time with her family, especially her grandchildren.

Marsha is survived by her daughter, Tristy Kaye Hagedorn of Winter Garden, FL; daughter, Trina Anita Kreutz of Platte City, MO; daughter, Jennifer Lynn Cornelison of Kenosha, WI; son, Donald Burton Jones of Provo, UT; sister, Marilyn Louise Mecham of Smithfield, UT; sister, Maxine Kaye Barnett of Ogden, UT; brother, Stanton Allan Brighton of Idaho Falls, ID; brother, Rulon Scott Brighton of Blackfoot, ID; brother, Joel Earl Brighton of Idaho Falls, ID; brother, William Ward; and16 grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Gary Don Jones; son, David Elias Jones; brother, Steven Max Brighton; and brother, Dennis Ward.

Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, June 14, 2025, at Wood Funeral Home East Side, 963 S. Ammon Road, Ammon, Idaho. The family will visit with friends from 10:30-11:15 a.m. prior to the service. Burial will be in the Downey Cemetery at 3:30 pm.

Services will be broadcast live on this page.