Lucretia Parsons Markham Jones Obituary (1932

Lu Markham Jones passed away gently on Thursday, December 17, 2015 in Pleasant Grove, Utah, surrounded by her daughters. Lu was born April 3, 1932 in Brooklyn, New York to Ira Joseph and Beatrice Parsons Markham. The Markhams lived shortly in Utah before moving to Concord, CA. Lu graduated from Mt. Diablo High School in California then earned a degree in Political Science and Journalism, graduating from Brigham Young University in 1954. Lu lived and taught in both Spain and Mexico, and served as an LDS missionary in Uruguay. Upon completing a 2-year Peace Corps assignment in Venezuela organizing rural libraries, she met her husband as they were both earning Masters' degrees in International Education at Columbia University. Ralph first noticed her in class when she hotly disputed a point with an illustrious professor. Recalls Ralph: "That blonde girl was right and the professor was wrong!" Very soon thereafter, he had contrived an introduction. Lu and Ralph were married in Concord at the Markham Nature Park on June 10, 1967 and immediately left for Bangkok, Thailand. Through Ralph's job with the U.S. State Department, they lived in Thailand (where daughters Ann & Amy were born), Washington D.C., and Jamaica. Upon retirement in 1979, the family moved to Concord, CA. Moving back to the home of her youth after 30 years of world-travel, Lu devoted her considerable intellectual energies to her greatest passions in life: education, community, and genealogy. Though too plentiful to mention in their entirety, her contributions included significant service to Concord High School, county-wide programs fighting drug and alcohol abuse, and research on early settlers to Northern California. She earned numerous community awards for her work in these areas. When her health started to fail in 1999, Ralph and Lu moved to Utah to live closer to grandchildren. Finally, Mom would insist we include a heart-felt thank you to the many individuals who have given her service and support through so many years of serious illness. You have been her angels, and we love you. Lu is survived by her daughters Martha Ann (Jess Price) of Mesa, AZ and Amy Lucretia (Paul Waldron) of American Fork, UT; grandchildren Lane, Kate, Rachel & Todd Price; Nancy, Daniel, Emma, Elizabeth & Daphne Waldron; stepmother Birdice Markham of Roy, UT; and brother Jay Markham (Joy) of Las Cruces, NM. Funeral Services will be held Monday, December 21, 11:00am at the Manila Stake Center, 850 North 900 East, American Fork (next to the Mt. Timpanogos Temple). Lu will be laid to rest alongside her beloved husband and ancestors for whom she worked so diligently, at the Spanish Fork City Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to www.olpinmortuary.com.