Idonna was born November 5, 1931 in Los Angeles California to Roscoe and Idella (Mangum) Jackman. Her family moved to Arizona when she was a child and she lived there ever since. Idonna married George F. Kelly on September 3, 1949. They began their family which eventually grew to eleven children and several foster children. After George’s passing, she married Lee S. Lay, and his daughter became her twelfth child.
Idonna was active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and held callings in every organization in her wards and stakes over the course of her life. Her passion, however, was the Cub Scout program, where she proudly served for over forty years. She inspired countless boys to “Do Your Best” in roles from den mother, Cubmaster, Pack Committee Chair, and other leadership callings in the organization. Idonna received the Silver Beaver Award and was inducted into the Cub Scout Hall of Fame, but her greatest honor was being greeted by her Cub Scouts, now adults with families of their own.
Her sugar cookies, Red Velvet and Texas Sheet Cakes were legendary in every school and church youth group her children attended, and her presence was electrifying in every organization she belonged to.
Above all, Idonna cherished her role as Mom, Grandma, Great-Grandma, and Great-Great-Grandma. She was at her best when surrounded by her family and she loved them fiercely and without reservation. Her presence loomed large and will be sorely missed as she enters her well-deserved rest with our Heavenly Father, our Savior Jesus Christ, and her family that has waited for her in heaven.
Idonna is preceded in death by her parents; her brother Roscoe Jackman; her husbands, her son Roy Kelly, and her daughter Lesli Conway. She is survived by her brothers Martin (Betty) Jackman and Leslie (Paula) Jackman. Her surviving children include: Georgia (Lonnie) Morris; Donna (Blake) Smith, Susan (Howard) Thaxton; Nancy (Mike) Townsend; Sara Sterling (fiancé Dave Rosas); Glenn (Michelle) Kelly, Sam (Jenny) Kelly; Ray (Julie) Kelly; Rachel Kelley, and Leann (Aaron) Williams. In addition, Idonna leaves 47 grandchildren, 55 great-grandchildren, 3 great-great grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren on the way.
Those who knew Idonna Mae Jackman Kelly Lay know that there is not enough room on the internet to encompass her very full life of service and love, nor to list all the lives she touched.
We love you Mom, Grandma, Great-Grandma, Great-Great Grandma, and we thank you for all you’ve done for all of us. We will miss you—until we meet again.
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