Jalyn Vandruff

Jalyn Vandruff passed away peacefully, surrounded by family and friends, on January 2, 2025 from complications related to pneumonia. Jalyn was born on June 21, 1950, in Pocatello, Idaho, to Nick and Eleanor Schilhabel. She was the second of five children. Raised in a home where hard work and service to others were paramount, Jalyn carried these values throughout her life. 

Jalyn graduated from Pocatello High School and embraced her lifelong role as a devoted mother. She lovingly raised three daughters, Cyd Peterson, Torie Thompson, and Teresa Coen, along with a son, Daniel Phelps, who passed away in infancy. Beyond raising her own children, Jalyn extended her love and care as a foster parent from the mid-1970s to the early 1990s, enriching the lives of numerous children. During this period, she also pursued her passion for hairdressing, earning a cosmetology degree from Idaho State University. Jalyn became the family hairstylist and willingly shared her talents with anyone in need of a cut, frost, color, or perm.

 In 1992, Jalyn relocated from Idaho to New Mexico, where she met the love of her life, Terry Vandruff. They were sealed for time and all eternity in the Bountiful Temple on February 9, 1995. Together, they created a life centered on love and service. During their 29 years of marriage, she continued her legacy of fostering children, making a profound difference in many young lives.

 Jalyn was an active member of her church and found great joy in serving others. She had a diverse range of interests and hobbies. Camping and fishing brought her a sense of peace, while gardening and canning filled her with pride. She loved preserving the bounty of her garden, often sharing stories about the jars of tomatoes, spaghetti sauce, and jam she had meticulously prepared. Jalyn was a passionate crocheter, creating blankets for birthdays, graduations, or simply as heartfelt gestures of kindness. She was also an enthusiastic sewer, skillfully crafting clothes for her children—from jeans to dresses—and sewing baby quilts that she generously gifted to many. Her creative talents extended far beyond crocheting and sewing, bringing happiness to all who knew her.

 Cooking was Jalyn’s greatest passion. She had an extraordinary talent for remembering recipes in detail and loved sharing her creations with others. Her caramel corn was legendary, and her breakfast burritos became a beloved favorite among family and friends.

 Jalyn’s generosity, creativity, and warmth will be deeply missed. She was preceded in death by her father, Nick Schilhabel; mother, Eleanor Schilhabel; sister, Diana Pearson; and son, Daniel Phelps. She is survived by her husband, Terry Vandruff; daughters, Cyd Peterson, Torie Thompson, and Teresa Coen (Chris); sister, Nikki Roddy (Keith); brother, Jon Schilhabel; brother, David Schilhabel (Shelly); four grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

 Services for Jalyn will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 902 West Blanco Boulevard, Bloomfield, New Mexico, on January 10, 2025. The viewing will begin at 9:30 a.m., followed by the service at 11:00 a.m.