Jim Secrist

Koosharem, Utah - James Arthur (Jim) Secrist, age 80, of Koosharem, returned to his Heavenly Father on April 30, 2008 in Salt Lake City, after a long battle with diabetes. He was born October 28, 1927 in McFadden, Wyoming, a son of Orson S. and Mary Ann Taylor Secrist. As a toddler, his family moved to D’Hanis, Texas, where he resided until he was 12 years old. The family then moved to Rockford, Ohio, where Jim graduated from Rockford High School. He met Carmen Jean Friley and they were married on October 30, 1949 in East Sparta, Ohio. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple. Jim had his own airplane and would fly over to date Jean. He loved airplanes, baseball, animals, music and poetry, hunting and fishing. His biggest treasure of this earthly life was his family. He and Jean lived in Ohio for 19 years while he worked for Marathon Oil Company. He moved the family to Martinsville, Illinois in 1968, where he worked until his retirement from Marathon in 1989. After retirement, he and Jean moved to Koosharem, Utah, where he loved the mountain air and the wonderful friends he made there. He and Jean served a mission to Ohio Columbus 1990-1991. He dearly loved his children and grandchildren and loved for them to come to Koosharem to visit him. Jim was a convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1958 in Findlay, Ohio. He had many callings and served as Branch President numerous times as well as on the Stake High Counsel in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. He had a strong testimony of Jesus Christ which he loved to share with others. He enjoyed working on his genealogy and wanted other family members to do the same. He was an honest man through and through and cared deeply for his fellow man. His word was as good as gold. He never shirked a promise or duty made to a friend or family member. Jim is survived by his eternal companion, Jean Secrist of Koosharem and their six children: James and Linda Secrist of Ogden, UT; Carol and Blaine Webber of St. George, UT; Peggy and Greg Stanonis of Lafayette, Louisiana; Kathy and Jaime Adkins of Parachute, Colorado; Tom and Jennifer Secrist of Wickenberg, Arizona; Laura and Jon Watts of South Jordan, UT; 19 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; brothers and sister: Orson Secrist of Oceanside, CA; Jo Ann Vining of Ft. Wayne, Indiana; Robert and June Secrist of Wadsworth, Ohio. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother-in-law: Carl Vining and a great-grandson, Taylor Jordan Webber. Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 10, 2008 at 12 Noon in the Koosharem LDS Ward Chapel. Friends may call for viewing at the Springer Turner Funeral Home, 260 North 400 West in Richfield, Friday evening from 6 to 8 P.M. or at the Ward Chapel in Koosharem, Saturday morning form 10:00 to 11:30 prior to the services. Burial will be in the Koosharem Cemetery under the care of the Springer Turner Funeral Home of Richfield, Salina and Gunnison, Utah.