Jenifer Wood

Jenifer (Jones) Wood, 46, of West Valley City, Utah passed away peacefully at her home on May 16, 2018.  Jenifer was born January 1, 1972, the daughter of Marilyn Laughlin and John Keith Jones.

Jenifer was both a brilliant academic and incredible athlete. She was All State in Volleyball, Basketball and Track. She was valedictorian of her high school, received the Walt Disney Dreamers and Doers award as well as the Amateur Athletic Union/Mars Milky Way High School All American Award. Governor Bangerter officially declared March 2nd as “Jenifer Jones” day in the state of Utah for her many accomplishments. She attended Weber State University through both the Presidential Scholarship as well as a full-ride athletic scholarship. She played for the Weber State girls basketball team where she won many awards for her contributions to the team both on and off the court.  She received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Elementary Education from Weber State in 1995.

She taught elementary school for 7 years in both Davis and Granite School Districts and won Teacher-of-the-Year awards in both.  She found great joy and satisfaction in the success of her students.

Jenifer was an accomplished pianist. She composed several songs dedicated to her family and faith and loved sharing her gift of music with her piano students.

Jenifer dedicated her life to serving others. She was a prominent member of the community; serving in a variety of capacities within her faith, including Relief Society President, Young Women’s President, and in Boy scouts as a Den Mother and currently serving in the Primary as secretary. She volunteered her time at Jackling Elementary, Valley Crest Elementary and Neil Armstrong Academy to develop jump rope clubs that spanned over 200 members (all elementary school kids) each year. She was an athletic coach for many different organizations and won the Youth Soccer Association’s Recreational Coach of the year in the State of Utah, the Rocky Mountain Region, & the Nation.

Jenifer gave her all in everything she did whether she was playing/coaching sports, educating others, serving her church community, successfully battling cancer, or raising her 4 boys. If she dreamed it, she accomplished it. She was tenacious; focusing and working until her ideas came to fruition. Despite the many awards and recognitions; her most treasured dream and accomplishment was her family.  She never missed a moment of life with them. Before children, she and her husband spent time traveling, camping, making each other laugh, and building a solid spiritual and physical foundation for their future children.  She loved her 4 boys dearly and gave them countless opportunities to develop personally, athletically, intellectually, creatively, and globally.  Her influence and love for them are present in their actions and deeds. They are four amazingly compassionate, courageous, intelligent, and thoughtful young men thanks to the time and effort she gave to raising them.

Words cannot express the void that has been left in our community and family. Our hearts are broken. Jenifer will be sorely missed. Her inspiration and influence will live on in our laughter, love for each other, and actions of kindness and compassion.

She is survived by her husband Jeffrey Garn Wood, mother Marilyn Laughlin, siblings Justina Jones, Jiselle Jones, Jeremiah Kenton Jones, and Janessa Fano; her sons Jacob Wood, Jared Wood, Joshua Wood, and James Wood; her dog, Diana; several chickens; a few cats; 8 nieces and 4 nephews; and many loving relatives and friends.

The viewing will be held May 29, 2018 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm and May 30, 2018 from 10:00 am to 10:45 am at the Brookhaven Ward building 4980 West 3285 South, West Valley City, Utah.

Please join us in celebrating the amazing life of Jenifer Wood May 30, 2018 at 11:00 am at the Brookhaven Ward building 4980 West 3285 South, West Valley City, Utah.

In lieu of flowers, donations for the family can be made through the following link: www.gofundme.com/w54ecq-jenn

(Please be sure to use this link to connect with the official gofundme page.)

If you have pictures of Jenifer that you would like to share, please upload them to this site.