Jean Jory Anderson

Jean Jory Anderson

1930 - 2023

Salt Lake City, UT-The Dragon Lady has left the building, exit stage left.

Our mom crossed the rainbow bridge on July 10, 2023, to join her multitudinous animal babies who crossed before her. She is not running through the fields with them, but perhaps enjoying a spoonful of peanut butter, a Tom Collins or a glass of white wine, and watching an episode of The Big Bang Theory for the 300th time.

Jean was a deeply complicated woman. She grew up in Hollywood and New York while her parents pursued their acting careers. She was proud to be the daughter of Victor Jory and Jean Inness and sister to Jon Jory, but living up to her family's high expectations was hard for her.

She had a Bachelor of Science in Theatre from University of Utah (of which she was most proud -- a science degree), a Masters of Arts in Theatre also from the U of U, and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from Utah State University. During her career she taught college English, she did public relations for theatres and college theatre departments, and later in life, she taught English as a Second Language. She acted some and she co-founded a small community theatre, Valley Players, in Logan, Utah. She gave 100% of herself to every task she undertook.

In so many instances, she was beyond kind. She fed the hungry, she nurtured the sick or injured, she rescued animals, she offered family to those who had none, she gave money to those in need and never expected repayment, she housed the homeless, and she accepted people as they were. However, if you ended up on her bad side, there was no return.

She adored her husband, Jarvis L. Anderson, who protected her without ever letting her know he was doing so, she loved dogs and cats much more than humans, and she was weirdly crafty. She loved marzipan, maple sugar candy, all kinds of cookies, leg of lamb, fantasy books, the Tudors, New Yorker cartoons, Dr. Seuss, and gingerbread. She hated all technology, change, eggplant, okra, math, anyone who criticized her, ham, cooking, and getting old. She also hated not getting her way even if her way was impossible.

She fought the dying of the light. She fought and fought and fought for over 92 years. The house is frighteningly quiet without her personality filling it to bursting. We hope she is resting in peace, surrounded by the things she loves.

She and Jarvis had two daughters, Jensie (Robert Raysor) and Victoria (John Cordova) and three grandchildren, Chloe Jean Raysor, Christopher Jarvis Cordova and Alexandra Jory Cordova, who survive her, as does her brother Jon (Marcia Dixcy Jory).

At her request, no services will be held, but she did ask that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to one of three scholarships that she and Jarvis endowed in memory of their parents: The Jean Inness French Scholarship at Utah State University, 1421 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT, 84322; the Victor Jory Theatre Scholarship at the University of Utah, 540 Arapeen Drive, Suite 250, Salt Lake City, Utah 84108; or the Joseph P. and Alice T. Anderson Scholarship at Weber State University, 1255 Village Drive, Dept. 4018, Ogden, UT, 84408.