Janece Ferrin Jenkins, age 86, passed away peacefully at St. Joseph’s Hospital after battling an infection with secondary heart and lung complications. She is now reunited with her husband of 67 years, Dr. Darrell B Jenkins, after a 20 year separation.
Janece was born in Pima, Arizona to Ether and Julia Ferrin on October 13, 1932. The family moved to Mesa when she was in high school, and she attended Mesa High, where she met her future husband. She was outstanding in dance and drama, and was a member of the Rabbettes. She continued her study of dance at Arizona State College (now University), where she was on scholarship. She was a member of Lambda Delta Sigma, was a pom pom girl, and taught dance. She was a 4th generation Arizonan.
Janece and Darrell were married Dec. 3, 1951, in the Mesa, Arizona L.D.S. Temple, and began their life together. They lived their entire lives in Mesa, except for a few years spent in Kirksville, Missouri and Tucson, Arizona where Darrell attended medical school and served his internship. She was a social worker in Missouri, which helped support the family. Dr. Jenkins established his medical practice in Mesa, and Janece was his office manager. She would get her children off to school, work at the office, then race home to meet the children and prepare dinner. They retired in 1996.
Janece loved dance, music, animals, and her family. She served many years as the chorister in her various church callings, and studied music direction under Jerold Ottley, the director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. She lived in the valley, but loved visiting the mountains. She also loved visiting San Diego, and walking for miles along the beach collecting sea shells.
Janece is preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Darrell B Jenkins, her son, James Darrell Jenkins, siblings: Paul Ferrin, James Ferrin, Leila Branch, Flora Britton, and Mack Ferrin, and grandson, Nicholas Jenkins. She is survived by her brother Leven Ferrin, children: Julia (Patrick) Ryan, David (Cynthia) Jenkins, Mark Jenkins, Laura (Mark) Stewart, and daughter-in-law, Deborah Jenkins, as well as 21 grandchildren and spouses and 16 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held on January 12, 2019 at 11:00a.m. at the Mesa East Stake Center / Mesa 30th Ward, 2228 East Brown Rd., Mesa, Arizona 85213. A private family visitation will be held at 10:30a.m. in the Relief Society Room prior to the services. Internment will be immediately following the service at the City of Mesa Cemetery, 1212 North Center Street, Mesa, Arizona 85201.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations made in Janece’s honor to any of the following: St. Joseph’s Hospital, Barrow Neurological Institute, and Oakwood Creative Care.
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