Deona Jackson Green

Deona Jackson Green, 76, of Morgan, Utah, passed away on September 12, 2026, the same day her mother passed 17 years before.

Born November 4, 1949, to Dale and Iris Jackson, Deona was the oldest of seven children. She grew up in West Mountain near Payson, Utah, in a home filled with hard work, simple joys, and deep faith. Her father was a hard-working, thoughtful, self-sufficient man, and her mother was an angel—a gentle peacemaker, skilled homemaker, devoted teacher of sewing, cooking, gardening, and the quiet art of caring for a family. Deona carried those lessons throughout her life.

On August 13, 1970, she married Chad Green in the Salt Lake Temple for time and all eternity. They built a life together rooted in faith, hard work, and family. Deona was the devoted mother of three—Shane, Travis, and Shawnee—and later a beloved grandmother of ten and great-grandmother of ten. Deona was affectionately known by her family as Nanny, and she delighted in sleepovers, movie nights, garden work, trips to the zoo or dinosaur park, and especially the many family visits to Yellowstone (more than twenty times over the decades, beginning with their honeymoon) and the family cabin on Vernon Creek. She is also remembered for her spudnuts, hot dog roasts, and rewarding good grades with a night out. Nanny loved Christmas and everything to do with it: ginger bread houses, Scrooge at the Terrace Plaza Playhouse, the Nutcracker Ballet, the lights at Temple Square, and nativities. She tended grandchildren while their parents worked, preserved recipes into cherished family cookbooks, compiled an extensive family history book, quilted - including hand-pieced and hand-quilted quilts for all her children and grandchildren, played the piano and organ, knitted and crocheted. As an accomplished seamstress, she worked on daughters and granddaughters wedding dresses. She created traditions that her posterity still carry forward. She loved to use her talents to bless the lives of others: on her mission to Nauvoo, playing the piano at the hospital, knitting newborn hats and blankets for humanitarian donations and cancer patients, and sharing her garden produce with her family and neighbors.

Professionally, Deona began as a secretary in the newly formed Computer Science Department at the University of Utah, this is where she met Chad. She later worked as the head secretary at Morgan High School, returned to college, and worked as a Social Studies teacher (U.S. History, World Civilizations, AP History, Psychology, Sociology, and Economics). She loved her students and colleagues and was known for her steady, caring presence. In 2012 she and Chad served a mission in Nauvoo, Illinois—Chad as a teamster and Deona playing piano and serving in the sewing room.

Deona was a woman of deep gratitude, quiet strength, and abiding faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ and the eternal nature of families. She found perfect happiness in temple worship with her husband, children, and grandchildren; in the simple pleasures of cooking a good meal; a fire outdoors; holding a new baby; and the everyday sacredness of home. She often expressed awe at the self-discipline and sacrifice of her parents and the blessings that flowed from being born in the covenant.

Deona’s own words capture the spirit of her life best: she was grateful to have been sent to worthy parents, to have raised a family bound by temple covenants, and to have lived a life of ordinary faithfulness that blessed generations.

Deona was a breast cancer survivor, but ultimately succumbed to lymphoma.

She is survived by her children Shane (Shalaine), Travis (JoAnn), and Shawnee (Ryan Hoffmann); her grandchildren Nikkelle (Dalan Judd), Porter (Rachel), Ryder (Morgan), Kaitlyn (Matthew Mitchell), Kinyon (Victoria), Cheyenne (Josh Riding), Ethan Hoffmann, Benjamin Hoffmann, William Hoffmann, and Mary; her great-grandchildren Hayden Judd, Maverik Judd, Rhett, Emery Judd, Tate, Reid, Harvey Judd, Vivienne, Charlie, and Hayes; her siblings Carol Ann (Fenton Broadhead), Shelly (Lyle Francom), Terri Jo Jackson, Lore (Daryl Curtis), Kathy (Rick Carter), and Wayne Dale Jackson; her Sister-in-law Di-Ann (Bob Riches), and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Chad Green and her parents, Dale and Iris Jackson.

The family would like to express their deep gratitude to all those who reached out to help in Deona's final weeks. For her children’s sacrifice and care that made it possible for Mom to come home where she most wanted to be. To her hospice team: Julie, Ryleigh, Holly, and Caigen for their kind and compassionate care of both Mom and us. For the many neighbors, friends, and family who brought meals, visited with Mom, brought cards, sent recorded music, dropped off fresh fruit, brought flowers and showed concern and support in any way, thank you for your love and goodness.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, September 19, 2026 at 11 a.m. at the Porterville Ward Chapel. Viewing will be held on Friday Sept. 18 from 6-8 p.m. and Saturday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. prior to the services both at the Porterville Church.

Interment will be at the Vernon Cemetery at 4 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests acts of service, a shared family meal, or a visit to a place that holds happy memories—exactly the kind of simple, lasting pleasures Deona loved most.