James Lee Herndon, age 84, passed away Tuesday, April 2, 2002 at his home.
James was born December 7, 1917 in Winfield, Texas, the son of James Walter and Hester Lee Clark Herndon. He met and married Marjorie Beda Crafts, his future wife, while he was serving in the Marines in California. They were married on October 6, 1940 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Their marriage was solemnized in the Salt Lake LDS Temple, March 4, 1955. Marjorie passed away December 27, 1998.
James served in the U.S. Marines from 1938 to 1946. He participated in defense of Johnston Island and in the occupation and capture of Iwo Jima, Marshall Islands, Saipan and other areas of the South Pacific. Among his distinctions, he was awarded the Good Conduct Medal and the Purple Heart.
He received a Masters in Education from Utah State University. He started his teaching career at Downey (Idaho) High School in 1950. He moved to Kaysville and taught in the Davis High School Business Department from 1951 until his retirement in 1980.
James was active in the Kaysville 3rd Ward and held several callings, his favorite being Ward Clerk, a position he held for about 30 years.
He served as a Kaysville City Councilman during the late 1950s, and was active in the Davis Education Association.
James is survived by his three daughters, Connie Lee (Duncan) Steadman, Payson; Jean Marie Herndon, Salt Lake City; and Lois Ann (Mark) Bitner, Layton; by 17 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren; and by two brothers, Floyd Herndon, Buffalo, TX, and Wincel Ray Herndon, Memphis, TX, and by a sister, Vera Mae Peters, Abilene, TX. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Marjorie, and brothers Leon and Othell and a sister, Ruby.
Funeral services will be held Monday, April 8, 2002 at 11 a.m. at the Kaysville 3rd Ward, 855 East Mutton Hollow Road. Family and friends may call at Lindquist's Kaysville Mortuary, 400 North Main Sunday from 6-8 p.m., and Monday 9:30-10:30 a.m. at the church. Interment, Kaysville City Cemetery.
We could not have asked for a better father.
E-mail condolences to the family at llm@lindquistmortuary.com