James Dwight Tiner

March 23, 1936 — January 28, 2024

James Dwight Tiner, our dear father, grandfather and great grandfather passed away on January 28, 2024. He was born on March 23, 1936, to Thomas and Jewel Tiner in Knoble, Arkansas. He lived there until he was 8 years old. With his older brother and parents, they made the trek west to California settling in the Susanville, California area to work in the booming lumber industry. He graduated from Susanville High School and later went on to attend Lassen Community College and Chico State University. While attending Lassen Community College, he met and fell in love with Marilee Kay Furniss. They married on August 18, 1956. Seven years later, they were sealed for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His family, starting with his wife, was always his top priority.

To his friends, he was called Jim. To family, he was called Dwight. He answered to both.

Jim loved sports. In high school, he was a multi-sport player. He excelled in basketball, track and field, and baseball. At Chico State, he played basketball in the winter and then ran the 110 high hurdles and did high jump for the track and field team in the spring.

Once he married and started a family, he gave up those pursuits to provide for his family. Over the course of his life, he played lots of city league basketball and city league softball. He played softball into his 60’s.

Dwight’s career began as a carpenter. He became a master carpenter in a very short time. But knowing the inconsistency of work hours in this career, he made a switch to a more stable job joining Pacific, Gas and Electric (PG&E) as an intern engineer. He worked 31 years with PG&E mostly in the role of a hydro-generator mechanic and engineer.

After retirement Jim and Kay loved to go on cruises with many of their closest friends. They went on a total of 13 cruises which allowed them to see the world. Jim loved his trips with friends and Kay. Upon returning home after each trip, he would give incredible and detailed descriptions of things that they had seen.

In his later years, Jim became a master gardener. He loved planting flowers at his condo. He had the most beautiful flowers in his condo complex. Each fall or spring he’d plant the bulbs that he had dug up the prior year and store them in tubs in his garage. His children were always amazed that the bulbs would actually grow the following year. But he knew how to preserve them such that they would re-bloom year after year. It was an amazing skill that he developed and nurtured after retiring.

Jim was known for his huge hands. Swollen knuckles from basketball injuries and calloused from hard work, but always ready to give a loving pat on the back when someone did something well. Or maybe point a big ole index finger when someone stepped out of line. He was always willing to use those hands to serve others and now he is holding his Kay’s hand again who was on the other side waiting for him.

James Dwight was preceded in death by his dear wife, Marilee Kay. He is survived by his four children, Tim (Denise), Fred (Khrista), Shelley, and Scott (Kayci).; and his brother, Keith (Barbara). Together, Jim and Kay have 18 grandchildren and 38 great- grandchildren. He leaves in mortality a family full of wonderful human beings doing their best to emulate the great qualities that he shared throughout his 87 years on earth. He will be missed greatly.

Graveside services will be held on Saturday, February 3, 2024, at 2 p.m. at Lindquist’s Washington Heights Memorial Park, 4500 Washington Blvd. Friends may visit with family on Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Blvd.

Condolences may be shared at: www.lindquistmortuary.com.