James Lyle Strong, 79, our wonderful husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend died February 3, 2000.
He was born December 3, 1920 in Kaysville, Utah, the son of Harry Lyle and Josie Ware Strong. He attended elementary school and Davis High School in Kaysville. He graduated with a BA in Education from the University of Utah in 1949. He served in the U. S. Naval Air Corps during World War II, and before that nearly three years as an LDS missionary in Hawaii, arriving there October 8, 1941, just two months before the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. As he could speak Hawaiian, it was his assignment to inform the villagers to black out their houses at night in case of air raids.He married Marjorie Towler in the Salt Lake Temple November 28, 1945. They lived in Lake City, Florida until he was separated from the Navy in July, 1946, and then they returned to Salt Lake City, Utah.
Jim was a high school teacher for 30 years, teaching English, Speech, Drama and Debate in the Davis County Schools. During the summers he was a river guide taking people from all over the world on trips on the Green River, the Colorado, in the Grand Canyon, on the Yampa, and on the Tatshenshini and the Noatak in Alaska.
He was a professional stage and screen actor appearing with Victor Buono, Patty Duke, Victor Jory and Academy Award Winner Kim Hunter. At one time he had acted on the Pioneer Memorial Theater stage more than any other actor. He was also Stage Manager of the Valley Music Hall in Bountiful, Utah. He read books for the blind, and was on call with Suicide Prevention for many years.
Jim's last great interest was in the brine shrimp industry. Along with his two friends, Tim Begue and Joe Nangle, he formed Prime Artemia Inc. which became one of the premier brine shrimping companies on the Great Salt Lake. He had an active part in the company until it was sold two months before his death.
He is survived by his wife, Marjorie; his children and their spouses, Shelley and Gary Olson; Edward Strong; Shawn and Donna Strong; Nanette and James Hornsby, all of Salt Lake City, Utah; Stephanie and Gene Abiang, of Kailua, Hawaii; Robin and John Pace of Jacksonville, North Carolina; 13 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Also survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Richard and Nancy Strong of Kaysville, Utah; his sister, Jane Kimball of Salt Lake City, Utah; and brother-in-law and sister-in-law Robert and Agnes Towler of Mesa, Arizona. Preceded in death by his parents, and his brother-in-law, Kent Kimball.
The family wishes to thank Dr. Steven Mintz, Dr. Marcus Brann, Dr. Graydon Harker, and the nurses and staff of Community Nursing Services, and CNS Community Hospice.
Funeral Services will be held Friday, February 11, 2000, 1 p.m. at the Monument Park 14th Ward, 2255 So. Wasatch Drive (2700 East), Salt Lake City, Utah. Friends may call Thursday evening from 7-9 p.m. at Larkin Mortuary, 260 East South Temple, and Friday from 11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. at the ward.
Interment, Salt Lake City Cemetery.