Rena (Farnsworth) Mountjoy

Rena Farnsworth Mountjoy

1 December 1935 – 7 July 2026

Survived by her sisters- Donna, Madge and Sharon.

Also, her daughters Tawneen, Larena, her son Arthur Lane and

19 grandchildren, 43 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild.

Funeral Service will be held 21 July 2026

10:00 am 1000 Taylor Dr. Sierra Vista, AZ 85635

Services are under the care of Hatfield Funeral Home

A Brief Life History

Rena Farnsworth was a descendant of those who walked and talked with the Prophet Joseph Smith.  Their faith is what landed her ancestors in Colonia Gracia, State of Chihuahua, Old Mexico, and that is where she was born.  1 December 1935 at home to Lenna Farnsworth and Elmer David Farnsworth Jr (Dutch).  She was third of 7 children. In order – Royce, Donna, Rena, Gary, Madge, Ron, and Sharon.

She grew up and roamed the pine covered mountains with her siblings and cousins and always longed to be back in the pine trees.  Many happy memories and adventures to numerous to recount.  She remembers camping in an old cabin with two cousins.  It had no windows or door.  At night the wolves would howl and run around the cabin.  It rained hard that first night, the rivers came up and they couldn’t get home for 3 days.  They were hungry!  There were no doctors or dentists in Garcia, when someone was hurt, they went to a woman relative in the community who had a healer’s touch.

Her family eventually had to leave Garcia to find work.  They moved across the border into the United States when she was 10 years old. She was amazed at the lavish life style of the Americans. 

  It was in Douglas Arizona that she met her first husband Melvin James Lee and at 15 years old, being a naïve country girl, was talked into running off and marrying him.  They lived with his grandparents.  Rena had found memories of “Ma Lee”.  Melvin James Lee was a 5th generation descendant of King Mataafa, King of Samoa.  She had two children

with him, James, who died soon after birth, and Laurie, who inherited the beautiful brown skin and features of her Samoan ancestry.  This young couple didn’t stay together long and were soon divorced.

Rena got a job in Tucson AZ while her mother watched the baby.  Arthur Burris Mountjoy, a country boy from Virginia and fresh out of the Navy, saw Rena for the first time in a Dance Hall in Tucson and was smitten.  He chased her relentlessly until she said “yes” to marry him.  They married on 27 September 1957.

Two years later a daughter was born, Tawneen.  Another year later, another daughter, Larena.  Six years later, a son, Arthur Lane.

They moved up into a better home in the foothills overlooking Tucson by the A mountain.  During that time, Art was converted and baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and the family Was sealed for Time and All Eternity in the Mesa Arizona Temple on 7 December 1968.

They decided they wanted a country life for their children like they had growing up, and so moved to Canelo AZ and built an A frame with the help of all, Dad, Mom and the kids.  Eventually Art built a home for Rena’s parents up the hill from their home.  Many happy memories were made there in the foothills of the Thunder Mountains (Huachuca Mts).  During that time Laurie met and married Douglas Bradley

Art and Rena decided to move their family to Sweet Idaho in 1975 to get away from the Mexican border.  Rena said she would not move to a place unless there was an LDS church there.  She wanted her children to learn about and know the Savior, his gospel and the true Church on the earth.

Art built her another home there in Sweet Idaho and another for Rena’s parents just down the hill from them.  During that time Tawneen, Larena and Lane all graduated and married and moved away.  Rena was the Relief Society President for a time in the Sweet Branch along with many other callings while they lived there.  She loved the area and made many good friends there.  But Art was tired of the cold and decided to move back to AZ, Rena soon followed, reluctantly. 

They started a business building rentals.  Art got his Contractors license with Rena’s urging and encouragement, and they formed ‘ABM Development LLC’.  They bought a grader and a backhoe, Art found work with the heavy equipment which funded the building of their home and many more rentals.  Rena’s mother Lenna, moved in with her and Art and Rena took care of her until she passed away.  Rena’s father had died many years previously in an accident.  Rena’s daughter, Laurie, passed away on 17 October 2019.  This was a very hard and sad time for Rena, she never came back to her old self after Laurie’s passing, a little light went out.

Art and Rena were always so generous with their means, time and service.

Art passed away in 2009, but he had set her up well, with nothing to worry about, but she worried anyway, about her posterity and their welfare as was her way.    Rena stayed in the home Art had built for her in Cochise County AZ until she died peacefully in her own bed with her surviving children around her on 7 July 2026.

Rena was known for her strong testimony of Jesus Christ, she cherished the faith of her fathers.  Her family, her home and her faith were her highest priorities, her only hobbies.  Her sweetness and kind gentle ways made her dear to all her posterity.

Art and Rena’s home was always a happy loving place.  Whether in Tucson, Canelo, Sweet, or Cochise County, many happy memories and family fun.  Grandchildren came, and then great grandchildren.  A legacy of love and unity never to be duplicated.

                           Families can be together Forever

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