James Douglas Martin
With the sun shining in his bedroom window and his family by his side, James Douglas Martin, 93, passed away peacefully returning to his heavenly home on April 5th, 2024.
Born May 30th, 1930, to Mary A. Cook and James Edwin Martin. Jim lived in Hunter, Richmond, Delta, Sunset and South Ogden, Utah. Jim’s father died when he was only 10 years old. His mother remarried to Arnold F. Egan and raised him in Richmond Utah where they lived on a 100-acre dry farm. He learned to herd and milk cows, and how to harvest hay and grain.
In 1948-1952, during the Korean Conflict, Jim enlisted in the Navy and trained as a Naval Aviation Machinist in Memphis, TN. He was assigned to Fighter Squadron 112 stationed at North Island and Miramar Naval Air Bases in San Diego, CA. He was deployed on the aircraft carrier USS Philippine Sea.
After returning from an LDS mission to Finland, he attended and graduated from BYU, later receiving a master’s degree in education. While attending BYU, he met and married Muriel Skidmore from Delta, UT in the Manti Temple. They were married for 68 years and raised six children.
Jim taught at Delta and South Clearfield Elementary and was a Principal at Pioneer, South Clearfield and Sunset Elementaries. He was also President of the Davis Education Association. After 30 years in Education, he retired in 1987.
While living in Sunset, he was a city Councilman for four years.
Jim had many LDS church callings, including 2nd Assistant in his LDS group aboard his naval ship. In Delta, Ward Financial and Ward Clerk. Member of the Sunset 4th Ward Bishopric, Stake Sunday School President, High Councilman, Stake Executive Secretary for 13 years and Counselor in the Stake Presidency. After moving to South Ogden, he became 3rd Assistant High Priest Group Leader, Stake Sunday School Coordinator, High Priest Instructor and Financial Secretary of the Deaf Branch for over 15 years.
Jim had a passion for Genealogy, researching his own and helping others with theirs. He volunteered at the Ogden Family History Center for 7 years. He has researched and written many of his ancestors’ life histories.
Both, Jim and Muriel, served in the Ogden Temple and later as Hosts in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building on Temple Square for 6 years.
Jim’s hobbies included skiing, carpentry, gardening, vacationing, art and spending time with his family.
Throughout Jim’s life, he was a devout husband to his loving wife. He showed us all how to do the right thing in every aspect of his life.
Jim is survived by his wife, Muriel; children Sherryl (Brent) Bigelow, Kathryn (Dan) Lukes, Douglas (Cyndi), Wendy (Mark) Walker, and Randall (Diana); brother Steve Egan (Nyoka) brother in-law Darrell Johnson; 21 grandchildren and 27 great grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his daughter Teri Ann, sisters Aleen and Arleen Egan, Judy Egan Johnson, father, mother, step-father and grandparents.
Visitation will be held Friday, April 12th from 6:00-8:00 pm and April 13th from 10:00-10:45 am at the Pleasant Valley 4th Ward, 5640 South 850 East, South Ogden, Utah. Funeral Services will follow on April 13th at 11:00 am.
Interment will be at the Syracuse City Cemetery.
The family would like to thank Shalee and the Enhabit Hospice team for their compassionate care.
Services entrusted to Leavitt’s Mortuary
Condolences maybe shared with the family at www.leavittsmortuary.com