Elizabeth Patricia Jenkins

Our precious and beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister and aunt, Elizabeth Patricia (Reilly) Jenkins (73) passed away peacefully in the arms of her lord on March 26, 2024 at her Phoenix residence after losing her lengthy battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Liz was born in Prescott, Arizona on December 21, 1950 to William P. and Mary Reilly. Her family moved from Prescott to Phoenix in 1952 as a result of the creation of Arizona Public Service (APS). Her father would later become President and Chairman of the Board of APS. Liz subsequently graduated from St. Francis Elementary Grade School, Xavier Preparatory High School, and the University of Arizona, where she obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Special Education in 1972. Liz was a die-hard Wildcat fan and rarely missed a televised game. 

It was in Tucson, shortly after she graduated, that she met the love of her life, William Scott Jenkins. They were married in Brophy Chapel on November 22, 1975. She would leave her beloved Arizona for a brief period of time in the early 1970’s to be with her future and then husband, living first in Boulder, Colorado and then Glendale, California while her husband was enrolled in law school. However, she could not stay away and returned to Phoenix in1977 to raise and be with her family  and close personal friends until the date of her death.

Liz’s primary focus during her entire adult life was her family. She gave birth to three (3) sons, Scott, Michael and Brian. She was the rock and moral compass of her family. She raised her sons in the Catholic faith, who would all go on to attend St. Francis Elementary Grade School, St. Mary’s High School, and, of course, the University of Arizona. She taught them right and wrong, to work hard at whatever they were doing, and treat others as they would want to be treated. She was avid sports Mom, acting as team mother for a number of her sons’ sports teams. She was always willing to help others in need. She also loved to travel the world with her husband and friends, especially to her beloved Ireland on 4 separate occasions.

When her youngest son, Brian, started high school, she felt the need to continue to be around young people. As a result, she became the Attendance Secretary at St. Mary’s High School in1997, where she would happily work for eleven (11) years. She grew to love St. Mary’s and its staff and students, including being able to work with her son Michael, a teacher, and her brother, Tom Reilly, a college counselor. In turn, she was a favorite of the staff and student body and a wonderful representative of the school. Her shenanigans endeared her to her colleagues, and her dedication to the Knights was second only to her family. Liz left St. Mary’s 2008 to be able to spend as much time as possible with her growing number of grandchildren, who she loved and adored and spoiled whenever she could.  Liz was known for her many sayings, some of which were related to sports and others to life in general, which we will save for another time. 

Liz lived a good and generous life, dedicated to her faith, family and friends and to serving her community. Her positive and uplifting spirit and smile will be missed terribly.

Liz is survived by her husband, Scott, her three (3) sons, Scott Jr. (Brandi), Michael (Jennifer) and Brian (Nicole), her brother, William P. Reilly, Jr. (Sandy), her six (6) grandchildren William III, Sam, Carter, Nate, Emerson and Luke, her nieces Kathy (Reilly) Hennessy (Neil), Lee Ann (Reilly) Baroch (Tom) and, Lesley Reilly and her nephew, William P. Reilly III (Jen). She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Richard and Tom and sister Mary Ellen. The family wishes to extend its grateful appreciation to Patricia Summerland and Michelle McFarland for their dedicated and loving daily care of Liz during the last six (6) months of her life and to Bayada Home Health Care and Hospice of the Valley for their extraordinary services.

 A visitation will be held at the Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home, 4800 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix, Arizona, between 5:00 and 7:30 pm on Thursday, April 25, 2024 with a rosary recited at 6:30 pm. A funeral Mass will be held at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 4715 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, Arizona on Friday, April 26, 2024, at 10:00 am. An online guest book is available at www.whitneymurphyfuneralhome.com.  In lieu of flowers, her family requests that donations be made to the ALS Association, Desert Southwest Chapter, 340 E. Palm Lane, Suite 230, Phoenix, AZ 85004 and/or Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E. Flower St. Phoenix, AZ 85014.