Iris H Jaynes

Iris Hunt Jaynes was born on March 12, 1933, to Nephi Ralston and Edith Wilma Hunt of Buhl, Idaho. She was the fifth of ten children and grew up working hard - and playing even harder - on the family farm.

She began her schooling at Melon Valley School in Buhl, a one-room schoolhouse with only eight grades and one teacher. During her sixth-grade year, World War II began, and as many workers left for defense plants, the school merged with Riverton. Later, when she started high school, the schools combined again into the Buhl School District. What once was a short quarter mile walk to school became a five-mile walk, and eventually a bus ride. It was on those bus rides that Iris met Harold Raymond McDonald. At the end of her senior year in 1951, they married in Elko, Nevada.

Iris and Harold made their home in Buhl, where their first son, Harold Raymond “Ray” McDonald, was born in 1952. Just three weeks later, they moved to Mount Shasta, California, before eventually settling in Filer, Idaho, where their second son, Kenneth Ralston “Ken” McDonald, was born in 1953. The young family later moved to Wilkins, Nevada, and then to Fallon, Nevada. Tragically, on April 10, 1954, Harold was killed in an accident. Iris, then pregnant with their third child, returned to her parents’ home in Buhl. Seven months later, she gave birth to Suesonie Rae “Sue” McDonald.

On December 24, 1957, Iris married Fred Dean Jaynes, who had six children from a previous marriage: Lura Louise, Susan Faye, Teresa Anne, Judith Kay, James Jay, and Michael Dean. Together, they became a blended family of “yours and mine,” soon to grow into “ours” as Dean and Iris welcomed ten more children: Fred Dean Jr., Iris Marie, Kathi Lynn, Patricia Lee “Pat,” Kristi Diane, Alan Eugene, Brenda Ranae “Ranae,” Jerry Len, David Brent, and Vicki Lurene.

Dean and Iris raised their large family on a farm west of Buhl. Dean farmed in the summers and worked at the Twin Falls sugar factory in the winters. In March of 1999, Dean suffered a stroke, and he passed away on April 13, 1999.

Iris was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many callings, her favorite being temple work. She was a full-time mother, gardener, baker, avid quilter, and disciplinarian. For more than sixteen years, she also worked in local greenhouses, where her love for flowers flourished. While some joked that she didn’t enjoy cooking, she was certainly good at it. Above all, Iris cherished time spent with her family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, two husbands, all but three of her siblings, five children, three grandchildren, and many other loved ones.

On August 27, 2025, Iris returned home to her Heavenly Father, leaving behind a legacy of faith, strength, and devotion to her beloved family.

A funeral service will be held Saturday, September 13, 2025, 11:00AM at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 501 Main Street, Buhl, Idaho 83316 with viewing one hour prior to service.

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family on Iris’s memorial webpage at www.farmerfuneralchapel.com.