Jewel Forsyth Obituary (1933 - 2019)

Jewel Elizabeth Terry Forsyth, a lifelong resident of Southern Utah, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 8, in Cedar City, two days before her 86th birthday. Jewel was born Jan. 10, 1933, in Enterprise, Utah, to Franklin Amos Terry and Ellen Ann Goodliffe Terry. She was the eighth of 10 children. Raised in Enterprise, Jewel married her high school sweetheart Meade Kent Forsyth on February 24, 1950, and later sealed in the St George Temple. They moved to Cedar City in 1953 where they raised their five children. After Meade retired from U.S. Steel in 1986, he and Jewel were hired by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in Denton, TX. Jewel worked at the FEMA National Processing Service Center helping applicants get emergency aid during natural disasters. The couple returned to Cedar City in 1993. Jewel continued working for FEMA, traveling all around the nation to respond to natural disasters. Jewel was an energetic woman who loved playing basketball and baseball on high school and league teams. She was also a tireless gardener, an accomplished quilter and a seamstress. Her life was defined by her service to church, community and country. A member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she served as Relief Society and Primary president and Temple worker. She also was a Blazer Scout leader who continued to mentor her scouts through to their Eagle Scout awards. A tragic car accident in 1967 took the life of her young son Jeffery Meade Forsyth and resulted in life-altering injuries for Jewel. And she also underwent quintuple bypass heart surgery. But Jewel never let those setbacks define her or slow her down. When Meade was diagnosed with dementia, Jewel lovingly cared for him until his death on April 9, 2012. Jewel is survived by four children: Diane Hoff (Dale) of Denton; Allen Kent Forsyth (Gail) of Cedar City; Jon T Forsyth (Kari) of Cedar City; and David Jamieson Forsyth of Dallas; 20 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren, and one great-great granddaughter; a brother Wendell Terry of Henderson, NV, and two sisters, Jean Terry and Laverna Mead of Salt Lake City. She was preceded in death by her husband, son Jeffrey, six siblings and two grandchildren. Funeral services will be on Friday, January 11, 2019 at 11:00 am at the Mesa Hills chapel (1925 W 320 S, Cedar city, UT). Viewings will be held at Southern Utah Mortuary (190 N 300 W, Cedar City) on Thursday, January 10, 2019 from 5:00 – 7:00 pm, and at Mesa Hills chapel on Friday, January 11, 2019 from 9:00 – 10:30 am. Interment will be in the Cedar City Cemetery under the direction of Southern Utah Mortuary.Online condolences can be sent at www.sumortuary.com.