Howard Lynn Jessop

Howard Lynn Jessop, known all his life as “Lynn,” was born 1 June 1940 in Logan, Utah, and passed away peacefully on 17 January 2022 in Orem, Utah. He was the oldest child and only son of Howard Valentine Jessop and Jean Fuller Jessop. He had three younger sisters whom he teased and called special names. When asked where he grew up he’d respond that he grew up “in the West” as his family moved from Logan to Cheyenne to Olympia then to Tempe, AZ. He participated in some of the usual activities for boys, including delivering the daily local newspaper on his bike. He believed strongly in education and was a good student. He was active in Primary and other church activities and attended BYU for a year before his call to serve as a missionary for 2 ½ years in Central America (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras) where he learned to speak Spanish like a native and performed a lot of baptisms, especially of young people. He learned many valuable lessons, including learning to live in very poor conditions, and he made many friends for the church. Post mission Lynn returned to BYU where he completed his degree and met and married Alice Ann Cole of Santa Monica, CA, in the Mesa Temple on a hot day in August of 1966. He accepted a job teaching high school Spanish for a year in Rock Springs, WY. They then returned to Provo to do some graduate work and this is where their first child, Mary Alice, was stillborn. Alice worked full-time in the Language Department while Lynn took classes. At the end of their time at BYU their son David was born and they were off to Pomona, CA, to teach school. They finally bought their first home in Chino Hills in 1972 and had 7 more children here (Mike, Steve, Julie, Laura, Rich, Tom and Ben) and stayed until he retired in 2003—35 years! Lynn loved being a Daddy and was serious about his role as a father, always doing his best to teach his children and to set a good example for them. One of Lynn’s great joys was serving in the Church—in many and various callings—from teacher to priesthood leader, perhaps his favorite being the first bishop of the Chino 4th Ward. He welcomed many new families and experienced much joy and some sadness as he worked with the different families. He also loved the temple and worked there whenever possible. The same year he retired, he and Alice were called to the Texas McAllen Mission to serve in the mission office for 2 years, where they grew to love both the young as well as the senior couple missionaries whom they served. They loved using their Spanish every single day. After the mission, they decided it was time to move back to Utah Valley, where some of their family had already located. It was a great move for them. Lynn loved to read: scriptures in English and Spanish, books by and about the prophets and apostles, newspapers, Reader’s Digest, and a few authors like L’Amour, Baldacci, Cussler, Evans. He also loved listening to conference talks; he and Alice listened to at least one every morning upon awakening before getting out of bed. In fact, the morning of his passing, they had already listened to two talks and he died just moments after. In later years he liked watching several recorded shows on TV, and said he didn’t enjoy them as much if Alice wasn’t by his side and his schnoodle Dixie on his lap. Lynn loved to travel, first in the states and after their TX mission, abroad, along with several trips by cruise. He and Alice owned a 26 ft. motorhome called “Big Blue” and for 13 years they traveled whenever possible and wherever their noses took them…at least twice around the great U.S.A. He eventually took us to every state in the union, many places in Canada and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints historical sites more than once. The highlight of their travel adventures, and perhaps the highlight of their later life, was the three years spent in Xi’an, China, where they taught oral English to University students. Teachers in China are revered, especially old ones, and they were no exception. They had close ties with many of their students. They were able to see most of China and several other Asian countries during that time. Lynn is survived by his wife Alice, his youngest sister Mary Jean Holt, all his children, 23 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. The funeral will be at the Northridge 4th Ward chapel at 1780 North 165 East in Orem at 11:30 AM on Monday, January 24th. The viewing begins at 10AM. Burial will take place at the Millville Cemetery in Cache Valley on Tuesday, the 25th, at 10 AM. Lynn was a stalwart, a man of his word and a man of unquestionable ethics and unshakable faith in his Savior, Jesus Christ. He was modest about his accomplishments but had the courage to fulfill what he believed and had covenanted to do. You could always count on him to do his duty with a smile. We will greatly miss our husband, Dad and Poppy, brother and friend, until we meet again.

Howard Lynn Jessop

June 1, 1940 - January 17, 2022