Madeline Jones Barlow

With heavy hearts, we announce the sudden passing of our beloved Madeline Jones Barlow, age 87, on 24 February 2026 in Garden City, Utah. Her passing leaves a painful void in the lives and hearts of all those who have been blessed recipients of her gracious self-sacrificing service and devoted love.

Madeline was born to Cora Eleanor (Cook) and Glenn Murdock Jones on 20 January 1939, in Logan, Utah. She was their third child and first daughter, following her brothers Doyle Cook Jones (1931) and Glenn Max Jones (1937). The family lived in Logan, then relocated to Ogden. In June 1944, the family moved into a beautiful new home at 37 Villa Drive in Clearfield. Later that month, her younger brother Michael Cook Jones arrived. Madeline’s cherished sister Nancy Mae Jones arrived in 1948 to complete the family.

Their home was often under construction and expansion as Madeline’s dear father Glenn worked tirelessly to ensure his growing family’s well-being. Her lovely mother Cora provided a home overflowing with love and warmth, despite the challenges of the times.

When Madeline was just five years old, she became lifelong best friends with Nola Schenck (Wood) when the Schenck family moved into the home two doors down. They were dear friends for 82 years, with never a harsh word between them.

Madeline attended Wasatch Elementary in Clearfield. She would walk to school, passing by the Barlow home on East Center Street. She then attended North Davis Junior High in Clearfield, and Davis High School in Kaysville, graduating in 1957. She attended Weber State College.

A beautiful and talented young woman, she had a gift for design, decoration, and sewing. She made many articles of clothing for herself and her family, and won third place in the Miss Wool of Utah contest in 1956. Madeline was the Clearfield Jaycees Queen in 1958 and rode the Jaycees float in the Clearfield City and Ogden City 4th of July parades.

She was musically gifted, playing piano for family and friends and learning the complex art of playing the organ, a lifelong skill that would be appreciated by many over the years. She had beautiful penmanship and an eye for elegant simplicity.

Madeline and her friends from “the Villa” and beyond were a tight-knit, fun-loving group that enjoyed socializing, dining, playing practical jokes, and recreating throughout Davis County. They referred to themselves as the “Clearfield Gang.” The “Gang” remained lifelong friends, gathering regularly to dine, reminisce, and care for each other, even to this day. Her little sister Nancy was never left out, and they shared an incredible, loving bond throughout Madeline’s life.

After high school, Madeline worked as head secretary and bookkeeper at D&P Clearfield Manufacturing. She later worked at Hill Air Force Base. While working at D&P, a handsome young man named Wayne Barlow also worked there as a welder and salesman. They knew each other from school and through mutual friends. They went out on a double date with “Gang” members Don Taylor and Darlla Marston. Romance bloomed, and it was later revealed that a younger Wayne had noticed from the Barlow family home on East Center street, a beautiful young girl with dark hair in a ponytail, walking gracefully to school at Wasatch Elementary. It had been love at first sight, a love that endures and will endure for all time and eternity.

On 16 June 1960, Madeline and Wayne were married in the Logan Temple. Wayne had graduated that month from Utah State University. They moved to San Mateo, California, where Wayne worked as an electrical engineer at Eimac and Madeline worked at Raytheon.

In autumn 1961, their firstborn daughter, Jennifer Joan, brought new joy to the family, a beautiful and precocious child with a talent for performing, who, upon meeting Wayne’s beloved parents for the first time while only a few months old, smiled and clearly said “Hi!” While living in San Mateo, Madeline and Wayne developed close friendships that they maintained for many decades.

In 1962, Wayne was invited back to Utah State to join the research faculty and lead the Aerospace Radiation section of the Electro-Dynamics Laboratories. The family moved to Boulder, Colorado where Wayne worked on an atmospheric research project, then returned to Utah, settling in Hyde Park. Madeline made lasting connections with Hyde Park families. Their son Jeffrey Wayne arrived in autumn 1962. His name means “peacemaker” and he strives to fulfill that role.

After a few years in Hyde Park, the small family moved to Hyrum. In 1966, their daughter Michelle Angell was born on a very special day for Madeline. Her middle name is an ancestral tribute and became her known name, and also describes her nature.

Once again, lasting friendships were made with families in Hyrum. Madeline’s fun-loving and mischievous personality was expressed in little pranks like making sandwiches for the crew at Wayne’s job, each containing an edible imitation “spider.”

In the spring of 1967, the family relocated temporarily to Brighton, Massachusetts, while Wayne led a project. Madeline and Wayne celebrated their seventh anniversary there.

They returned to their Hyrum home, and in 1968, the family relocated for the final time in Cache Valley, to a home west of Providence. Here, the family took root and continued to grow. Daughter Pari Noelle completed a trio of sisters, arriving on the cusp of the sixties and seventies with a keen mind and rare eloquence.

Son Nicholas Glenn Eldon arrived in 1973, bringing musical talents and delight, especially to Jeff (no longer outnumbered 3 to 1). In 1975, son Benjamin Jones joined the family, bearing a striking resemblance to Madeline’s beloved and handsome brother Max and sharing a similar strength and work ethic.

In 1978, a fourth son, Michael Wayne, was born early Easter Sunday. Somehow, the Easter Bunny had still magically prepared and hidden Easter baskets for all the children, including newborn Michael. Madeline always called him her Baby Boy.

In 1979, Madeline’s dear sister Nancy and her husband Wes joyously welcomed a son, Jonathan Wesley (Jonny) Rutledge, to their lives. Madeline’s nephew Jonny has always been like another son. Later that year, precious daughter Ingrid Brooke arrived, her sparkling blue eyes and joyful ways lighting up the family’s days. Like Michael, she was always Madeline’s Baby Girl.

As the years passed and the family grew, each new grandchild was celebrated and doted upon with joy and the greatest care. “Grandma Maddie” made sure each and every one felt special and knew they were loved immensely. She had numerous unofficial children and grandchildren, as every one of her children’s friends found themselves welcomed into her home with warmth and generosity.

Madeline lived an amazingly gracious, devoted, and selfless life. Her concern for others, loving attention, and soothing comfort were known and appreciated by many. Incredibly thoughtful, she amplified her gift for knowing when someone needed a shoulder to cry on, or someone to listen and understand. Each of her children knows how blessed they are to have had such wonderful parents and to have grown up in a home filled with abundant love. In hard times, the love she poured out was an incredible source of comfort that will be sorely missed.

Her family and holiday dinners were legendary. A creative cook, she could craft a delicious meal out of seemingly nothing. With both she and Wayne being late-night workers, many nights involved dinners well past normal mealtime. Her kitchen was called Midnight Maddie’s, with thousands of delicious hamburgers served and always “free pickles after midnight.” For several years, while multiple family members worked at Wescor, the company Wayne co-founded, she would prepare midday meals for the “Lunch Crew.” Memories of those gatherings are cherished.

She had a delightful, even slightly dark sense of humor that would emerge at the least expected times and create rounds of laughter of the sort that heals tension and mends misunderstandings.

Madeline was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and served as ward organist for over three decades in the Providence wards. She also served in the Relief Society Presidency, Relief Society Activities Committee, as a Young Women’s adviser, Cub Scout Den Mother, Primary pianist, and other callings. She played the organ on request at numerous ceremonies, including funerals, providing the spiritual reverence befitting the place and occasion. She provided decorations for many wedding receptions, spending countless hours selecting items and materials, then artfully arranging them, creating atmospheres of grace and beauty. Along with several beloved sisters in the Providence Third Ward, she was a member of “The Society of Relief,” gathering often to dine, socialize, and support one another as they raised their children and learned from each other. She cherished the wonderful families in Providence, descendants of the pioneers who traversed the western plains and Rocky Mountains to settle and establish the communities where she lived. In later years, after Wayne retired, they spent a lot of time in the peaceful Bear Lake valley, and Madeline used new streaming capabilities to participate in the Centerville Eighth Ward services where her dear sister Nancy is an organist.

Madeline dedicated a huge portion of her time and energy to volunteer causes, providing service to others. For several years, she organized and supported the Miss Providence pageant, and decorated and towed the Providence City float in summer parades. She was proud of her pioneer heritage. Among her pioneer ancestors is Truman O. Angell, architect of the Salt Lake Temple. Other ancestors migrated from Scotland, England, and Wales. She was actively involved in the Daughters of Utah Pioneers for 45 years, including the Cache Far South Company since it was organized in 1981. She was camp president for six years and held many positions, including pianist and second vice president. She was a charter member of the Spring Creek Camp and also active in the Elizabeth Mathews Camp, both in Providence. Madeline served as Director of the DUP Cache Museum for 25 years. She was a member of and served a leadership role in the Cache Valley Historical Society. She handcrafted countless intricate announcements and invitations for various events, each beautiful to the last detail. Anyone who attended an event she decorated may recall the beauty and elegance of the experience.

From 2016 until her passing, she served as parliamentarian on the International Society Daughters of Utah Pioneers Board at headquarters in Salt Lake City. In addition to her responsibilities as parliamentarian, she served as special events coordinator. Through her work with DUP, she made many lasting and loving connections and served the community tirelessly.

She maintained lasting friendships with her Davis High classmates, and played a very active role in keeping annual reunions going and keeping track of and in touch with classmates. She spent many hours researching, locating, and contacting long-lost classmates, with help from her sleuth sister Nancy and others, to ensure they were included and invited. Many friendships were preserved and renewed through these efforts. Collaborating with wonderful classmates, Madeline invested months of work compiling and preparing a Davis High School Class of 1957 commemorative hardbound book with updates on as many classmates as humanly possible. It is a cherished artifact for many.

Madeline enjoyed cheering on the Utah Jazz, and would let out an enthusiastic “woohoo!” for a timely three-pointer. She kept a ledger of the schedule and scores, and enjoyed seeing the progress of her favorite current player, Keyonte George. Her favorite television programs were British comedies and period dramas, including As Time Goes By and Keeping Up Appearances. She greatly admired the actress Dame Judy Dench, and loved the music of Jack Jones.

With a soft spot for Teddy bears, she curated a large collection, even having a special room created for them when the family home was renovated in the 1980s. Her especially loved stuffed sloth named Corfu will now be cherished by Wayne.

She had an abiding love of swans and cranes, collecting figurines, paintings, and sculptures. Her admiration was especially for swans and their motherly love. Her eye for graceful lines and balance, and her attention to detail in all the labors of love she worked, made every day and every event special.

Madeline is survived by her husband Wayne K. Barlow, their children (Jennifer Joan Barlow, Jeffrey Wayne Barlow, Michelle Angell Barlow, Pari Noelle (Gregory) Edgar, Nicholas Glenn Eldon (Cheryl) Barlow, Benjamin Jones (Melanie) Barlow, Michael Wayne (Stacey) Barlow, Ingrid Brooke Barlow),

26 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren, sister Nancy (Wes) Rutledge and their son Jonathan, sisters-in-law Rosemary Montgomery (Max) Jones and Gloria McKenzie (Michael) Jones, and brother-in-law Steven Eldon (Lana Braegger) Barlow.

She was preceded in death by her father Glenn Murdock Jones (1974), mother Cora Eleanor Cook Jones (2011), brother Doyle Cook Jones (2014) and his wife Cleo Beus Jones (2008), brothers Glenn Max Jones (2017) and Michael Cook Jones (2020), father-in-law Eldon Hogan Barlow (1987), mother-in-law Golda Burningham Barlow (1992), sister-in-law Carolyn Barlow Low (2015) and her husband Alan Taylor Low (2016).

Madeline's beloved friend Nola Wood preceded Madeline in death by just 18 days. One of Madeline’s final acts of service was in sharing her love and assistance with the Wood family and offering the benediction at Nola’s funeral services on 14 February.

Her earthly life of service, teaching, and sharing complete, Madeline has returned to our Father in Heaven and beloved Savior Jesus Christ, and the awaiting, loving arms of her dearly departed parents, brothers, family, and friends.

A public viewing will be held on Tuesday, 3 March, from 6:00–8:00 pm at White Pine Funeral Services, 753 South 100 East, Logan, Utah.
A second public viewing will be held on Wednesday, 4 March, from 10:00–11:00 am at the Providence Third Ward chapel, 309 South Main, Providence, Utah, followed by a memorial service at 11:30 am.
Interment will be at the Avon Cemetery in Paradise, Utah, where Madeline will be laid to rest near her beloved parents, brothers, and family members.

“In art and culture, swans represent the epitome of maternal love, grace, and devotion. 
She is our eternal swan.”
– Michael Wayne Barlow