Melba Jones Wright Cherished Wife, Mother and Grandmother Melba Jones Wright, our beloved wife, mother, grandmother and friend, passed away peacefully on November 1st, 2007 in Salt Lake City, Utah with her loving family by her side. She had fought a long and courageous battle with cancer. Melba was born June 7th, 1926 to John Henry Jones and Clementine Cuvier Coe in Duchesne, Utah. She was the youngest of their 11 children. She grew up on the family farm in Tabiona, Utah. She married her husband, J W Wright, on August 30th, 1946. They enjoyed 61 happy years together. She worked at Blue Cross for nearly 20 years and retired in 1989. Melba was the mother of two daughters, Marlene and Debra. Family was always first and foremost in her life and she especially enjoyed a tender and special relationship with each of her 10 grandchildren and six great-grand-children. Her home was always full of her family who loved and adored her. She was a lifelong member of the LDS Church and she served in Primary, Sunday School and Mutual. She had many talents and enjoyed sewing and handwork. She enjoyed traveling and long drives with her loving husband. She was a dear and devoted friend to many and will be greatly missed. Melba is survived by her husband, J W Wright; her daughters, Marlene Sollis (Larry), and Debra Muir (Randy); 10 grandchildren, Cynthia Hepworth (Brian), Brandon Muir (Jenn), Jenny Lundeberg (Karl), Ryan Muir (Nicole), Jeffrey Sollis (Rachel), Brett Muir (Becca), Christian Sollis (Susie), Greg Muir (Cheryl), Matthew Sollis (Clancey), Lindsey Mackay (Nate); and six great-grandchildren, Brooklyn and Rylee Muir, Ethan and Tanner Hepworth, Anna Sollis and Riser Lundeberg. She is also survived by Bertha Jones (Idaho); Donna Scott (California); Raymond and Janie Wright (Kentucky). She is preceded in death by her parents, her six brothers and four sisters: Sylvia, Margaret, LeRoy, Earl, Edna, Nathan, Don, Wayne, Leo and Doris. We are certain there was a joyful Jones Family Reunion at her passing. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, November 6th 2007 at 11 a.m. at the Murray 28th Ward, 932 W. Greenoaks Drive (5900 So.). The viewing will be from 6-8 p.m. on Monday at Jenkins-Soffe Mortuary, 4760 So. State St., and one hour prior to services on Tuesday at the church. Interment: Mountain View Memorial Cemetery. Condolences may be shared with the family at www.jenkins-soffe.com Published in the Deseret News from 11/3/2007 - 11/4/2007.
I don't think I could possibly covey the feelings that I have about this wonderful mother, grandmother, and friend. I first met Jeff's grandma when we were in high school. I immediatly felt at ease in her home. She had the ability to make anyone that entered there feel welcome. After introductions she offered me every type of food concievable. We then sat at the kitchen table (the first of many times) and she sincerely asked me about myself. I was really surprised the hospitality shown me on first meeting. Little did I know that she already had heard about me from Jeff. He would report our dates to her, so she already knew about me. I loved that Jeff had that kind of relationship with Melba. In fact, one of the first things that I really loved about Jeff was the relationship that he has with his parents and grandparents. It is so unique.
Shortly after Jeff and I were engaged Melba coyly told me (with that amazing smile of hers) that she always thought we would get married, even before Jeff left for his mission. This meant so much to me. It was immediate acceptance into the special world of Grandma Melba and her grandchildren. Maybe it's selfish of me to say, (but I dare say the other grandkids-in-law would agree) but I always felt like she cared about me and loved me just as she did her other grandkids. What a blessing.
After Jeff and I moved to Virginia I found that one thing I missed terribly were the bi-weekly Sunday dinner at J and Melb's. When I first married into the Sollis's I didn't quite understand how we could meet and eat and then sit for the next three to four hours. What I didn't realize at the time was that was not what everyone was doing. They were re-establishing friendships, helping each other with finacial issues, getting and giving advice, playing with grandkids and cousins and neices and nephews, and just partaking in the love that emminates from J and Melb's home. I grew to LOVE that time.
It was so special for Jeff and I to see Anna with her great-grandmother. When Anna was a tiny baby, Melba was one of the only people that she would let hold her without crying. Jeff and I have always felt that there is a special connection between the two of them that extends beyond this life. Anna loved her great-grandmother, we could tell even before she was able to express it herself. This has been a great source of comfort to Jeff as we've been away. He feels connected to Grandma through Anna.
What a wonderful legacy Melba has left for the Wrights' and Sollis.' I'm sure Grandma Melba will continue to be a part of her grandchildren and great-grandchildrens' lives as she looks down from what surely is heaven. I truly feel honored to have been a tiny part of her life.
