Jean Ashton

Jean Christensen Ashton, a cherished mother, grandmother, wife, sister, and friend passed away peacefully at home in Scottsdale, AZ on December 31, 2025, at the age of 74 years, just 10 days shy of her 75 th birthday. After a courageous battle with dementia, she is now at peace. Born to Clifford and Betty Christensen in San Diego, CA on January 10, 1951, Jean brought warmth, curiosity, and spunk wherever she went. She was the eldest of four children (her parents had two sets of twins just 18-months apart). Her family moved to Phoenix, AZ during her toddler years and she grew up there alongside her twin sister, Jan, and the second set of twins, James and Judy. She was baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, a faith that she fully embraced and emulated throughout her life. 

Jean graduated from Central High School in Phoenix, AZ, where she was actively involved and elected to serve on the Student Council. After graduation, she and her twin sister (Jan), shared a cozy little cottage while Jean worked as a lab technician. Shortly thereafter, she met David Ashton through the LDS Phoenix Student Branch, and they were married in the Spring of 1971. They embarked on a lifestyle of military adventure, requiring the family to relocate every 3 years while Dave served in the U.S. Air Force. Jean happily supported him with every move, bearing the cutest children along the way: Emily in Phoenix, George in Las Vegas, Ben in Phoenix, Elizabeth and twins Paul and Hannah in Colorado Springs, and sweet caboose, Marianne in Springerville after the family settled in Snowflake, AZ in 1984. 

Snowflake became the heart of Jean’s world. While raising children there, she poured her energy into family, faith, and incredible creativity. She joyfully led music for the children at church for 15 years, bringing to life the teachings of Jesus Christ through song. She enjoyed every opportunity to work with the children, including serving in the Primary Presidency. And of course, her own children loved having their ‘fun mom’ singing with them at church, not just at home.

Jean had exceptional sewing skills and opened a sewing studio in her home that spanned most of the basement area. There she taught sewing classes to her children as well as to the neighborhood and community kids. Each of her children received a Singer sewing machine upon graduating high school, a gift that keeps on giving through blankets, dresses, pajamas, face masks, and countless handmade memories. 

Never one to stop learning, Jean moved to Scottsdale in 1997 to attend massage therapy school, earning her certification in 1999 and mastering craniosacral therapy in 2000. She was blessed with an innate healing ability through touch, and her excitement about understanding the foundational concepts brought added light and joy to her life. One of her favorite opportunities was working at Scottsdale Healthcare in the NICU, where she felt honored to help care for the tiniest babies and quietly soothe them with her tender touch. 

After 32 years of marriage, Jean and David parted ways and divorced, but they continued to be very good friends and supportive of one another. Years later, they found their way back to each other and were remarried on December 30th, 2019, following a Thanksgiving proposal and a joyful Christmas announcement that surprised the whole family. 

Jean dedicated her life to her family, always putting her children first. She loved singing and uplifting music, sharing her sewing talents, and whipping up her famous graham cracker/frosting cookies. She spent her life centered on the people she loved, impacting countless lives with her vibrant creativity and talents. 

She is survived by her husband: David Reed Ashton; her 7 wonderful children: Emily, George, Benjamin, Elizabeth, Paul, Hannah (Sal) Cepeda, and Marianne (Kenton) Ogg; 12 very loved grandchildren, 4 cherished great-grandchildren; siblings Jan (late Forrest) Keith, James (CeCe) Christensen, Judy (late James) Cozza; and dozens of amazing nieces and nephews. 

Jean will be remembered for her warmth, her creativity, her steady faith, and her deep love for family. Her life was full, her heart was generous, and her memory will continue to bring smiles to all who knew her. 

Funeral services will be held on Friday, January 23, at 4:00 p.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 6840 E. Gold Dust Avenue, Scottsdale, AZ or by Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/96557614950. Her viewing will be held one hour prior to services. Interment will occur the following day on Saturday, January 24, at 1:00 p.m. at the R.V. “Mike” Ramsay Memorial Cemetery in Snowflake, AZ. Jean loved everything pink, so please feel free to wear or accessorize with pink to honor her.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Humanitarian Fund in honor of Jean Ashton at https://donate.churchofjesuschrist.org/contribute (account sign-in not necessary).