St. George, Utah - Jean Marion Kinney Rhodes, distinguished poetess and artist, passed away peacefully on January 21, 2015, in St. George, Utah, at age 92. She was born on December 18, 1922, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Maurice Norton Kinney and Affa Leora Carlston. Her father worked for the railroad and was frequently transferred allowing her to live in central Utah, southeastern Idaho and Salt Lake City. She had a brilliant mind, graduated with honors from Pocatello High School, and was the first woman to receive the renowned "Bausch and Lomb Science Scholarship." Jean married Robert Howard Rhodes during World War II on November 3, 1942, shortly before he left for Europe with the U.S. Army. Upon his return, they moved to northeastern Washington and, subsequently, back to Idaho to raise a family. Later in life, she became a single mother and was the very essence of strength, courage, and endurance, clothed in gentleness and kindness. She was exceptionally charitable and her home was always open to anyone in need. As a mother of six, she graduated from BYU and worked in the Biology Department supervising laboratories and designed exhibits at the Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum. She treasured the cultural things of this world. Jean was a talented artist, published and award winning poetess and writer. She loved nature, opera and classical music. Her large murals are found in businesses, universities, and homes across the West. Jean's optimism never waned. She recently stated, "Although I am painfully aware of the precarious times in which we live, I prefer to focus on the splendor of nature and the many good and valiant people I know." She is one of the Lord's great handmaidens. She will be deeply missed by family and friends who are comforted to know that she is now with others whom she loves. She is preceded in death by her younger sister, Cheryl; a daughter, Julia Cheryl Merino; two grandsons, Richard and David Bingham and a great granddaughter, Eliza Brinton. She is survived by three sons, J. Robert (Geri), David (Sandra), Michael, and two daughters, Susan Gibson (Jeff), and Elisabeth Bingham (Glenn). She has 23 grandchildren and 47 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 24, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at the Sunset LDS 10th Ward Chapel, 415 Westridge Drive, St. George, Utah. A visitation will be held Saturday, prior to services, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Chapel. Interment will be in Tonaquint Cemetery.