James George Clegg

With heavy hearts we announce the passing of James George Clegg on July 16, 2025, at the age of 84. He was a wonderful husband, amazing father, loving grandfather, and a devoted friend. Jim was born in Park City, Utah to Edythe Grace Johnson and James Raymond Clegg on May 12, 1941. The eldest of four children, he had a memorable early childhood in Park City. He had so many great experiences there including learning to ski on some small skis his mom’s friend made for him as a five-year-old and has loved skiing ever since. He loved the soap box derby and all the other fun things they did. The family moved to Salt Lake City when Jim was in 6th grade. He graduated from Granite High School where he participated in swimming, basketball, and football. He always talked about the life lessons he learned from his beloved coach, Lavell Edwards. Jim and Marie started their courtship the summer between their 9th and 10th grade. Marie was 15 and Jim was 16. She learned that his favorite pie was lemon meringue and decided to make him one. She found a recipe in her mother’s cookbook and did the best she could to make a special pie. He loved it! Jim didn’t have a car when they first met, just a bike that he rode many blocks to visit Marie at her home in Sugarhouse. Soon he was able to purchase a ‘50 Chartreuse Ford convertible and he would pick her every day for high school, and they often would go to the Iceberg drive-in for milk shakes. One of Jim’s most cherished times of his life was serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the North Central States. It was there that his love for the Savior was magnified. Upon his return he married his high school sweetheart, Marie Davis, in the Salt Lake Temple on June 28, 1963. Together they built a joyful, loving home and raised five children. Jim loved watching his children participate in sports and other activities. He was their #1 fan. Jim graduated from the University of Utah where he was in the R.O.T.C. Airforce and loved flying planes. He majored in business and minored in marketing. The family then moved to Southern California to work for Norwich Pharmaceuticals, and then to Norwich, New York. Since Jim was a strong believer in Boy Scouts (he earned not just his Eagle, but also his Silver Eagle), he was the district chairman for the Chenango County Boy Scouts in New York. In 1980 an opportunity came to work for O.C. Tanner as a Divisional Vice President, so the family moved home to Salt Lake City. Jim enjoyed his time at O.C. Tanner for 20 years. After that he went to work for Impact where he learned about billboards and unique printing and cherished the friendships he made there until the end of his life. There was nothing more important to Jim than having quality time with his family. Some of the highlights were the annual Labor Day Party where he and Marie always provided the pinata and going boating at Bear Lake every summer. He enjoyed Bear Lake so much; he turned down a trip to Australia and New Zealand one summer just to go to Bear Lake! Christmas was a special holiday, and Jim always prepared a special treasure hunt for the grandchildren, complete with handwritten clues, to find a treasure chest with the extra gifts inside. He loved Memorial Day and honoring his family members that had passed. He had made a promise to his mom to remember them, so every Memorial Day he and Marie decorated all the graves of family members across the Utah area in multiple cemeteries. He never missed carving pumpkins at Halloween, leading the family bingo game and coloring the eggs at Easter, making sure each grandchild had an egg with their name on it. Jim treasured the American flag. In addition to the flag in his front yard, he had a framed flag in their home and small flags in the potted plants. Jim truly loved people, he never met a stranger he didn’t like. He loved giving out “lucky two-dollar bills” every chance he got. Jim loved bananas and enjoyed one every single day. Another one of his favorites was hot chocolate piled high with whip cream, it didn’t matter if it was 90 degrees outside. Jim always loved his cowboy hats, his cowboy boots, and especially his country music. In his dreams, he was a cowboy. He loved Florsheim shoes. When he was a young college student, he painted the inside of a three-story apartment building to earn the money to buy a pair. One of Jim’s hero’s is Captain Moroni from the Book of Mormon and is hoping to meet him on the other side. Jim’s passion was helping those who suffered from the disease of addiction. His heart hurt for the addict and their families. Following Jim and Marie’s church service mission for almost 4 years in the Addiction Recovery Program for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, he created the Institute for Addiction Study. It continues to offer products to benefit and motivate those who struggle with the disease of addiction. Among those products is the film “Pleasure Unwoven” which is shown in many recovery homes and hospitals around the world. Jim was steadfast in his unwavering faith in Jesus Christ. He never doubted that He is his Savior and trusted Him completely. He cherished his opportunity to serve in many different callings, but working in the Draper temple baptistry was his favorite. And oh, how he missed it when he was no longer able to serve in the temple. We are going to miss him terribly, but know he is having a wonderful reunion with dear loved ones who have been waiting anxiously on the other side, including his son Mike. Jim is survived by his wife, Marie, four of their five children: Randy (Amy) Clegg, Heather (Antonio) Araneda, Amy (Cory) Reich, Jamie Ellerman, 23 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren and one on the way. One sister Kathie (Bruce) Cutler and brothers Terry (Melodee) Clegg and Steve (DeAnne) Clegg and Navajo sister Theresa (Joe) Robledo. He was preceded in death by his parents and his son, Michael James. A heartfelt thanks goes out to Kaitlyn and Kanani and others who cared for Jim tirelessly. We will forever be grateful to them for their kindness and generous loving care. Funeral services will be held Saturday, July 26, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at the Alta Canyon Chapel 2400 E. Alta Canyon Drive Sandy, Utah 84093. Viewings will take place at the same location on Friday July 25th, 6:00 -8:00 p.m. and Saturday the 26th 9:30 -10:30 a.m. Interment, Heber City Cemetery. The funeral services will be live streamed at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/live/LU6yJJPYB7U

James George Clegg

May 12, 1941 - July 16, 2025