WASHINGTON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY (Washington County, Utah)
HEBER COTTAM & MARY LAREE McALLISTER JONES
(teachers, historians)
BIOGRAPHY
Heber Cottam Jones was born in St. George on August 7, 1934. He spent his early years in Veyo attending a one-room schoolhouse before graduating from Woodward School, Dixie High, Dixie College, the University of Utah (Bachelor’s in Composite Social Studies), and Utah State University (Master’s in U.S. History). Heber was the first citizen of Veyo to graduate from college.Heber met the love of his life, Mary LaRee McAllister, at McArthur Jewelers in St. George and married her on October 12, 1956.
Heber was drafted and served in the U.S. Army at Fort Lewis, Washington.
Heber was a professionial educator. After getting out of the Army, he started as a Social Studies teacher at Delta High School. In 1961, he returned to St. George and taught Utah History at the Woodard School, Dixie Junior High, Dixie High School, and Dixie College.
LaRee was also a career teacher. She taught many years at East Elementary School. She is the person primarily responsible the the history of East Elementary School on this website.
During summers, Heber worked as a host at Pine Valley served as a wildland firefighter.
After retiring from teaching, Heber managed the Washington County Welcome Center for the Five County Travel Council at the Utah-Arizona State Line. During his time there he introduced more than a million visitors to Southern Utah. After that, he divided his time and expertise as an archivist at Dixie State University’s Special Collections Department and serving the Washington County Historical Society. He authored two books, The History of Woodward School and the History of Veyo, along with numerous articles and poems. He was an avid lecturer, always willing to prepare and present and help others learn about the land and people he loved.
Heber died in St. George on August 3, 2021 and was buried on August 7 in the Veyo Cemetery.
FAMILY
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Heber's Parents and Siblings:
Ellis Wilson Jones Eva Cottam Jones Cleone Jones Alma Cottam Jones Ivins Ellis Jones Heber Cottam Jones Vera Jones Vernon Wilson Jones Nancy Jones |
(8/29/1894-8/27/1971) (married 6/1/1926) (8/9/1902-11/2/1955) (9/11/1927-9/12/1927) (8/26/1929-7/30/2014) (married Lois Wright, Barbara Gayle Todd, and Wanetta Jean Hardy) (xx/xx/xxxx-xx/xx/xxxx) (married Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx) (8/7/1934-8/3/2021) (married Mary LaRee McAllister) (xx/xx/xxxx-xx/xx/xxxx) (married Xxxxxxx X. Seitz) (4/7/1937-12/25/2020) (married Pauline Baby Sullivan) (8/31/1939-8/31/1939) |
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LaRee's Parents and Siblings: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx |
(xx/xx/xxxx-xx/xx/xxxx) (married xx/xx/xxxx) (xx/xx/xxxx-xx/xx/xxxx) (xx/xx/xxxx-xx/xx/xxxx) (married Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx) (xx/xx/xxxx-xx/xx/xxxx) (married Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx) (xx/xx/xxxx-xx/xx/xxxx) (married Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx) (xx/xx/xxxx-xx/xx/xxxx) (married Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx) (xx/xx/xxxx-xx/xx/xxxx) (married Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx) |
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Heber & LaRee's Family: Heber Cottam Jones LaRee McAllister Jones Don Jones Tom Jones Walt Jones Rob Jones Will Jones Edward Jones |
(8/7/1934-8/3/2021) (married 10/12/1956) (xx/xx/xxxx-xx/xx/xxxx) (xx/xx/xxxx-xx/xx/xxxx) (married Jean X. Xxxxxxxx) (xx/xx/xxxx-xx/xx/xxxx) (married Suzanne X. Xxxxxxxx) (xx/xx/xxxx-xx/xx/xxxx) (married Sara X. Xxxxxxxx) (xx/xx/xxxx-xx/xx/xxxx) (married Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx) (xx/xx/xxxx-xx/xx/xxxx) (married Kacey X. Xxxxxxxx) (xx/xx/xxxx-xx/xx/xxxx) |
PHOTOS
Heber in 1987
REFERENCES
Heber C. Jones PublicationsFamilySearch entry for Heber Cottam Jones
Obituary for Heber Cottam Jones
Find-A-Grave entry for Heber Cottam Jones