Grandpa Stanton's Obituary

Grandpa Stanton's Obituary

James Francis Stanton Jr.

Danish Warrior Going into Battle!

James Francis Stanton Jr., 84, long- time resident of Provo, passed away in mid-sentence after declaring minutes earlier that he was a tough old bird who would get through anything.  He left us on May 20, 2014 to join his wife, Bernice, whom he missed deeply.  We are happy for his return to the God who gave him life and certain of the joy he now is experiencing.

Jim was born in Ferron Utah on March 2, 1930.  He was the first child of James Francis and Evelyn Eunice Nelson Stanton.  He took this oldest position in the family very seriously, always honoring a mandate given to him by his father to look after his siblings. His sister, Eunice, described him as the benevolent dictator, keeping his brothers and sisters in line.  Even after he left home, he continued to care for his family, watching out for his parent’s welfare and serving his siblings, by researching and purchasing needed household items such as a stove and car, by helping with school projects, and often fixing the family car after his family drove it to Provo for him to look at.

Jim’s childhood was spent in Provo, Eureka, and Park City.  In Eureka, he and his brother, Brian, were part of a boy gang who had many adventures with Jim as the leader.  There he also experimented with putting nails under people’s tires, so he could see what would happen when the cars moved.  He was disappointed to never see a tire flatten.  He had a water spaniel named Curly who was his earliest and best friend.  Ever the romantic, he was so proud that he kissed his first girl at a very young age.

As a young man in Park City, Jim was very buff and strong.  He was built like Johnny Weissmuller Tarzan and he wanted to be Tarzan.  One of his tender memories was finally being able to learn to read when he spent time at sheep camp at age 15.  This experience gave him the opportunity to read the Tarzan books and to dream big.

At age 16, he was sealed to his family in the Salt Lake Temple in a ceremony described by his sister as so sweet and so wonderful.  That afternoon, his family went to a restaurant for the very first time.  In high school, he was a football star and was part of a wonderful threesome known as The Three J’s.

As a young adult, Jim married Lois Bond and they had a son, Mark.  Jim and Mark shared many common character traits, and Jim admired Mark for the man he became and for the strength of his beautiful family.  In Mark’s later life, they were able to enjoy a friendly association.  Mark was very close to his brothers and sisters and this gave Jim great joy.

On March 19, 1955, he married Bernice Cox in Ferron.  Their marriage was later sealed on April 13, 1957 in the Los Angeles Temple.  He liked to tell us that he married Mom because she could bake bread. We know that he was head over heels for her regardless of the bread.  She healed his heart, gave structure to his life, was his dancing partner, and told him when to take his medicine. She always called him darling. Jim and Bernice had six children:  Evelyn, James III, Ruth, Lloyd, Kathleen, and Lora.

Jim served in the Air Force, worked in the mines in Park City, and spent some time farming in Missouri as a young man, but ultimately his life’s work was as an airline mechanic for United Air Lines, both in San Francisco and Salt Lake City.

Jim was a life-long supporter of the Boy Scouts of America. He lived by the Scout Law and Oath.  As scoutmaster, he took such good care of his scout boys.  His scout troop in the Provo First Ward, was one of the top troops in the LDS Church.  As a missionary, he established a scout troop in Oakland from the ground up.  He and Bernice served as cub scout leaders while service missionaries at the State Mental Hospital.  He helped countless numbers of boys attain their Eagle rank, inspired by a desire to give others an opportunity he hadn’t had.  His joy was helping boys on their journey to becoming men.  He led many scout excursions to Grand Gulch and on the Spanish Trails.  His greatest scout service was spent with his sons, grandsons, and great-grandsons. He was influential enough to see the rank of Eagle Scout awarded to his sons and all of his grandsons.  In the past few weeks, he had helped yet another great-grandson put the finishing touches on a pinewood derby car.

Jim loved working in his shop.  He made marble runs for his great grandchildren, wooden reindeer and trivets, nativity puzzles, and helped many people who came to him with their projects.  He made cabinets and many other items for his home.  When Bernice wanted something made, he made it happen.  Every year, he and Bernice would work on a joint project of Christmas presents for their family.  He loved to dry fruit, peruse D.I. and the dump, hike Indian Fort in Ferron, and go deer hunting as a family

Jim went on three missions with Bernice as his companion. They served in The California Oakland Mission and The Washington Tacoma Mission, where they worked with Cambodian refugees.  They gave their very best effort to serving the people by teaching them skills, transporting them, sharing the gospel, and never judging, only loving unconditionally.  They left a lasting impression on the people they served.  From Oakland, they brought home a daughter, Rose, who became an important part of their family.  They also served in the Illinois Nauvoo Mission where Jim worked in the Blacksmith Shop.

Jim’s church service included Bishop’s Counselor, High Councilor, ordinance worker at the Provo Temple, and his very favorite calling, Home Teacher.  He was the most dedicated Home Teacher of the Provo First Ward.  He never missed visiting his families for any reason, not vacation, not illness, not the loss of a leg.

Jim was a renaissance man who loved to paint, work with wood, and garden.  He was always curious about trying something new such as tapping maple syrup, roasting chestnuts, or growing white pumpkins.  He had a loud booming voice which sometimes scared small children.  He loved to tell stories and give advice.  He was not afraid to face any situation, but was deathly afraid of spiders.  He loved gingersnaps, Tang, and anything greasy fried.  He took his great grandchildren for rides in his putt-putt on the Fourth of July parade route and was good to read them a story, cuddled together in his jazzy.  He was a patriot.
Jim enjoyed traveling with Bernice to new places, but he most loved being home.  He was the ultimate home-body, who could never be anywhere very long without yearning for it.  He had a special love for old movies especially with a bowl of popcorn with lots of salt and butter.  He was even happier if he could share the experience with someone else, especially if that person was patient enough to listen to commentary about the movie.

Jim was a champion of the under-dog.  He had a gift for sharing with those less fortunate.  He gave rides to hitch-hikers, room and board to many of those hitch-hikers, and room and board to people from such far-away places as South Africa, Cambodia, Korea, and South Carolina.  He once came home without his shoes because he had given them to someone in need.  He never understood the dangers of trusting too freely, in this regard he was certainly watched over by heaven.

Jim passed on many important things to his family including his deep set eyes, his singing voice, and his proud Danish heritage.  His childhood songs became his family’s childhood songs and the artistic leanings that he received from his mother were passed down too.  He gave his family his love of Park City by taking his grandkids on excursions to the mine dumps and to look for arrowheads, to watch mucking contests, for a tour of the old jail, to hike, and to swim there. One of the most distinguishing Stanton characteristics that is pervasive throughout the family was his ability to constantly and instantly make new friends. Even when bedridden during recovery, new friends were found in insurance agents and health care professionals over the phone.  He gave his family a portion of his toughness, but his tenderness he gave them full measure evidenced in his ability to tell others of his love and the propensity to spring forth into tears when touched.  He gave his family a legacy of deliberate gospel service.

Jim had a high threshold for pain.  Once while he was changing a tire, his fingers became stuck in between the tire rim and the tire.  He had his son run over his hand in order to release his fingers.  This tolerance for pain was supremely tested in his last few years.  His greatest pain was seeing Bernice go through the throes of cancer, only to lose her two years ago.  Additionally, he endured a bad fall which resulted in the loss of his leg and subsequent loss of independence and mobility.  Recently, he endured three open heart surgeries with a challenging road to recovery. During these experiences, he showed his family what it is to be grateful, how strength defines a man, and an independent fighting spirit.  Wheeled into his first heart surgery, looking back at us, he raised his fist in triumph, “Danish warrior going into battle!”

Jim is survived by his children, Evelyn M. Becker, James III (Shawna) Stanton, Ruth (John) McAtee, Lloyd (Tamara) Stanton, Kathleen Foote, Lora (John) Lund, Claudia MacNaughtan, and Rose (Matthew) Badell.  He is also survived by his 31 grandchildren: Benjamin, Danylle, Joshua, Brittny, Chelsea, Jocelyn, Sarah, Amber, Aaron, Joshua, Daniel, Joseph, Ryan, Trent, Kimberly, Jaren, Kyle, Rebecca, Rachel, Katherine, Stephanie, Camilla, John, Solana, Celeste, Kirk, Tina, Kimberly, Jasmine, Mordecai, and Talia.  He has 57 great grandchildren.  He is also survived by his sisters, Eunice (Jim), Francis (Mike), Janet (Daryl), and Virginia (Jim).

Jim was preceded in death by his wife, Bernice, his parents, brothers, Brian and Robert Stanton, his son, Mark MacNaughtan, his son-in-law, Dean Foote, and 4 great grandchildren.

The family would like to thank Dr. John Mitchell for his superior care of our father and the Cox family brothers and sisters, Glen, Harold, Max, Emma, Dora, and Phillip who have nurtured and looked after our father in the absence of our mother.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 31, 2014, at 11:00 a.m. at the Provo First Ward Chapel, 100 East 200 South, Provo.  A viewing will be held prior to services from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at the Provo First Ward Cultural Hall.  Additionally, a viewing will be held the night before, Friday, May 30, from 6:00- 8:00 p.m. at the Walker Tribute Center, 85 East 300 South, Provo.  Internment will be in the Provo City Cemetery with military rites.