Jarrett Jarvis

1928 - 2017

Jarvis, Jarrett
Jarrett Smith Jarvis, 89, passed away peacefully on July 28, 2017, following a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. Born on May 14, 1928, in Ogden, UT, Jarrett moved to Mesa, AZ at the age of four. He graduated from Mesa High School and was starting center on the 1946 Mesa High Jackrabbits state high school champion basketball team. After serving two years in the United States Navy, Jarrett graduated in 1951 from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor's degree in English. While at BYU, Jarrett met the love of his life, Alice Patricia Quinn, and they married on St. Patrick's Day, 1951. Jarrett went on to graduate second in his class from the University Of Arizona School Of Law in 1955, supporting the family through his schooling with his job as a Tucson radio announcer. He then clerked with Judge Richard Chambers of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in San Francisco. Jarrett and Pat and their young family returned to Phoenix at the conclusion of the year-long clerkship, where Jarrett eventually opened his own firm, Jarvis and Owens, with his law school friend, Melvin J. Owens. In addition to practicing law, Jarrett served from 1964 to 1968 on the Phoenix City Council, including two years as Vice Mayor. Jarrett, known for his commanding voice, witty rhyming poetry, and a prodigious sneeze, is survived by his wife of 66 years, two daughters, three of his four sons, 22 grandchildren, and 42 great grandchildren, as well as six of his seven siblings. Wonderful backyard parties and tennis tournaments; games of 8-ball and horseshoes; "no blood, no foul" pickup basketball; constant cheerfulness and whistling or singing; endless yardwork; love of theatre; calls for "uno mas vez?" as he circled around in the boat to pick up a water skier; hikes to many Arizona landmarks such as Havasupai; required memorization of all 15 Arizona counties and county seats; many outings to Lake Powell; recitation of Robert Louis Stevenson poems and "The Owl and the Pussy Cat;" taking toddlers for "a little stroll;" talented harmonica playing; family games of Michigan Poker, Old Maid, and Up Jenkins; pokes in the ribs; annual readings of Dickens' A Christmas Carol; and a daily vocabulary sprinkled with legal terms and Spanish words—these are just of few of the unique things we love and will remember about him. We will "be reasonable," annunciate our words, use our diaphragms, stand up straight, and "scream softly" in his honor. We are his "lovely bunch of coconuts." Special thanks to the Terraces for their care and attention to him in these last months. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, August 5, 2017, at the LDS chapel at 4225 N. 56th St. in Phoenix, with friends and family visitation at 9:30 a.m. and service at 11:00 a.m., to be followed by burial at Green Acres Cemetery at 401 N. Hayden Rd. in Scottsdale. Mortuary services by Messinger Mortuary.