Daughter of James Ellis Shirts and Lydia Musetta Workman

Married James Jefferson Jones, 14 Aug 1927, Blaine, Hailey, Idaho

History. Velva Musetta Shirts was born May 11, 1907, in Taber, Alberta, Canada, the sixth child and first daughter of James Ellis Shirts and Lydia Musetta Workman. The family moved back to the United States when she was about two years old. The family all became U.S. citizens. We lived in Provo, Utah. The following spring we moved to Mountain Home, Utah, and lived on a farm about two and a half miles from the little town of Mt. Home. Many happy hours were spent there.

We children even had our animal cemetery on the bench below our home we held funerals for the birds, etc. Mother Muse held me back until I was eight years old to start school because I was the only girl among several boys to walk to school and also to wait for Vera- my sister to start- I always resented it but now I understand. At fall thrashing time our cousin who lived west of our farm was visiting us. We (Vera, I & cousin) decided we wanted some candy, so we raided the chicken coup and found three eggs. We rode our ponies to town to Aunt Lois & Uncle Enoch's store and traded the eggs for candy. Aunt Lois questioned our actions and told our folks. Needless to say, we never did that again! We loved to play marbles.

All the family has been planning to move to Peace River, Canada for nearly a year. The family decided to return to the U.S. and we spent the next year at McArthur, Idaho. We then moved to LaGrande, Oregon. After we moved to Hailey, Idaho.

It was the summer before I was a junior in high school that I met Jeff Jones. For graduation, he gave me a diamond engagement ring. That summer I worked at the Local Laundry until August 1st then prepared for the wedding on August 14, 1927 we were married at home by Judge Houston. Jeff and Guy- his brother ran the O.K. Barber shop together until Guy passed away, then Jeff operated alone. He had to move out of the building he had rented for over 50 years, he then worked at the Beauty Shop for a year until they closed. After a few months, he rented a booth at the Marinello Beauty Shop where he worked four hours a day four days a week until he retired.

Velva was called to be a Stake Missionary in Oct 1945 for 2 years and was called to be a Stake Relief Society Chorister in Nov 1962 and released in 1964. She also served on the Stake M.I.A. Board as Laural Leader. She loved to sing. She was Hailey Ward YLMIA secretary for four years, a teacher in Relief Society, and has served as a chorister for Relief Society, Sunday School, and ward Chorister for many years. She became the camp secretary for Modern Woodman of America for a long time. She served for many years as a judge of Elections for Precinct #2 for Blaine County for primary and General Elections.

Jeff & Velva went to the Idaho Falls Temple on April 27, 1967, and were sealed for all time and eternity. She joined the Sun Valley Business & Professional Women's Club and held offices as secretary, Vice president, and President three times. She loved to paint. A few days before Christmas 1982, we received a letter from their good friend inviting them to spend a week with them in Hawaii, enclosing money to buy our tickets. What wonderful friends they are to do such a generous thing for friends. We just about didn't go because we had never traveled by air. We had such a wonderful time and saw so many wonderful things, it was once in a lifetime experience. Her sister Vera was with us too.

Jeff passed away on 19 Oct 1987 in Hailey, Idaho. Velva passed away on 19 Jun 1988 in Pleasant View, Weber, Utah where she stayed with her daughter Shirley Wride & Hayward Wride. She & Jeff are buried in Hailey Cemetery in Hailey, Idaho.