James “Jim” Edward Carter

    Our beloved husband, father, grandfather, friend, and neighbor, James “Jim” Edward Carter passed away peacefully at Intermountain Medical Center on June 20, 2018, from complications of a stroke. His loving family were blessed to be with him during his last hours.
    Born June 29, 1936 in Provo, Utah to Wayne and Ilah Stevenson Carter, Jim attended Provo High School and, after graduation, enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving in Korea for two years. Honorably discharged in 1958, Jim furthered his military training by obtaining a Master’s Degree in Military Science from the University of Virginia, completing Officer Candidate School and receiving his Commission to 2nd Lieutenant in 1962. He also completed Command and General Staff College, which he taught for many years at Ft. Douglas. As a member of the Utah National Guard and, then, the Army Reserve, Jim retired from the military in August 1989, with 36 years of service, having earned the rank of LTC.
    Jim’s 30-year career with the State of Utah was spent working for the Utah Department of Employment Security ((Job Service), where he held several positions to include Job Placement Supervisor, Employment Center Manager, Staff Services Director, and Director of the statewide Unemployment Insurance (UI) Program. Jim retired from Job Service in 1994 and spent the next 24 “retirement years,” working harder than ever before. He was excited to pursue a second career volunteering with several organizations and agencies (most notably, the Division of Wildlife Resources), to preserve and protect the Strawberry Valley and the Strawberry Reservoir. Having worked summers at the Frank Madsen Fishing Camp and spending his youth fishing with his father at Strawberry, Jim developed a deep and sincere love and appreciation for the great outdoors, for Utah’s fish and wildlife, for the fishing and recreational opportunities afforded in the Strawberry Valley, and for the threats to these treasured resources. One of Jim’s early successes in his retirement years, was gathering more than 10,000 signatures to petition DWR to stock the Reservoir with sterilized Rainbow Trout, helping to maintain Strawberry’s #1 Fishery status. He was also thoroughly involved in the successful “poisoning” of the Reservoir to rid it of its trash fish population.
    Jim founded the Strawberry Angler’s Association (SAA) in 1997, with an initial membership of six dedicated anglers (growing at one point to a membership of over 300 members); and co-founded the Friends of Strawberry Valley Committee – both organizations dedicated to the preservation and protection of the Strawberry Reservoir and the Strawberry Valley. (These organizations are still in existence today and work actively to pursue those original goals.) Jim served on the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Advisory Council, the Utah Angler’s Coalition, and many other angling organizations, receiving numerous awards for the tireless, dedicated and effective work he performed. As an expert fisherman, Jim spent many hours helping family members and friends learn the fine art of fly fishing. He crafted and built hundreds of fishing rods for family and friends, tied his own flies (which he gave away freely), and shared his angling expertise with anyone who sought it.
    Married his one-true love, Rosemarie Sacco, on September 4, 1976. They spent 42 wonderful years together, raising their daughter, Lisa, in their home in Murray, Utah, and at the Cabin they built and loved in Strawberry Valley. Since his job required nation-wide travel, Jim’s wife and daughter often accompanied him, visiting 28 states before Lisa turned 12. Jim was a life-long member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and served an LDS Mission to New Zealand. Upon his return to the States, he enrolled at BYU, graduating in 1964, with degrees in Economics and Psychology. He was a thoughtful, honest, trustworthy, and hard-working individual, and a wonderful example to all who knew him.
    Survived by his loving and devoted wife, Rosemarie, and their daughter, Lisa Marie (JL) Parker, Idaho Falls. Idaho; his other three daughters, Shirlyn (Bill) Peatross), Lindon, Utah; LoriAnn (Dave) Johnson, Midland, Texas; Janette Coburn, Salem, Utah; sister, Colleen (Merrill) Peay, Mapleton, Utah, brother, Steve (Judie) Carter, American Fork, Utah; sister Judie (Don) Williams, American Fork; 16 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren. Jim felt particularly blessed with the birth of his four youngest grandchildren—James Lynn Parker, Isabel Jeanne Parker, Wyatt Enoch Parker, Cody Barrett Parker–who enhanced his life during his retirement years, with countless hugs and kisses, and with opportunities to enjoy school plays, little league baseball games, piano recitals, summer parties at the Cabin, and many more special events in their lives. Grandpa particularly enjoyed a trip to Disneyland, and, then back home for a ride on the Heber Creeper, to celebrate the family’s move from Texas to Idaho; a trip to Jackson Hole, Wyoming to celebrate Grandpa’s 80th birthday; and a newly-established holiday tradition delivering Christmas presents “in person.”
    Funeral services were held Monday, June 25, 2018. Interment in the Murray City Cemetery.