James David Mathews 31 October 1934 - 7 May 2024

James David Mathews (Jim) took another step in his eternal journey on May 7, 2024, with is wife and family at his side in Layton, Utah. Jim was born October 31, 1934 to James Willard Mathews and Ethel Roper Mathews in Delta, Utah. He was the second child of five, older sister Donna, brother Russel, Jeanette (deceased) Lola. In his childhood years he lived in Caliente, and Panaca, Nevada, Los Angeles, California, Oak City, Utah and Nephi, Utah where he attended Juab High School. He loved the sport of basketball, playing four years on the varsity team.

As a young man he was called to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to the Southwest Indian Mission. He served among the Navajo people, whom he would respect and love throughout his life.

He was always grateful to be an American and served for five years in the United State Marine Corps Reserve. He later met a young woman, Lynne Adele Latimer from Pocatello, Idaho, they were married December 20, 1957, in the Manti Temple. They became the parents of seven children. These children were paramount to their happy lives. Lynne passed away in 1980 at the age of 42 of melanoma cancer.

He would later marry Diane Malmgren from Gunnison, Utah in the Salt Lake Temple 5 September 1980. They had one sweet son, Shaun, who passed away in 1998 at the age of 16.

Jim received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Brigham Young University. He had a passion for teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. He taught for 38 years in the Church Education System. He assisted in the development of the Indian Seminary Program at Sherman Institute (an off reservation boarding school for Indian students) in Riverside, California, 1959- 1965. Intermountain Indian School in Brigham City, Utah, 1965- 1969. Became the Division Coordinator for the North Central States, living in Rapid City, South Dakota, 1969- 1974. During that time, he also served in the Mission Presidency with Harvey Dahl. Also Mission Presidency with Rex Reeve. Then call to be Bishop of the Rapid City 2nd Ward.

Upon their return to Utah, Jim and Lynne made their home in Bountiful. He taught at Utah Technical College that later became Salt Lake Community College 1974- 1980. LDS Business College that later became Salt Lake Community College1980-1990, South City Campus, 1990-1996 where he retired. He also taught for many years for BYU Continuing Education. He became a tour director for BYU Travel Study and later LDS Travel Study. He made 26 trips with his wife Diane as co-director for 17 trips, to Israel, and ventured into Jordan, Egypt, Italy, Greece, the Greek Islands, and Turkey. He also enjoyed his tours to Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras. He loved to learn of other cultures, ancient history, and languages, and studied Hebrew for many years.

He loved journal writing he and his wife Diane are authors of two large volumes of family history and authored 19 volumes of personal journals, and other family histories. He served faithfully as an ordinance worker for many years in the Bountiful Temple and cherished his time while serving. He also loved his experience as a tour host on Temple Square for five years.

He and his wife, Diane, served four missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, the Family History and Church History Mission in Salt Lake, and the Utah Salt Lake Mission assigned to the Bountiful Central Stake.

Jim took great pride in keeping a beautiful yard and garden. He spent many hours peacefully sitting in his garden and enjoying the beauty of all of God’s creations. He loved to hunt and keep bees and was often found in the backyard in his bee suit.

He had a great love for all people and cherished his relationships, but the most important thing to him was his family. He adored his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He loved to make memories with them, laugh with them and each family member knew of his individual love and concern for them. He always gave the best hugs and said, “I love you.” His greatest joy was teaching his family the gospel and often gathered them all together for large Family Home Evening discussions. His “clan” was his everything!

He is preceded in death by his wife, Lynne Mathews,

parents James W and Ethel Roper Mathews, son Shaun M Mathews, grandson, Jason Hunter, granddaughter Sarah LeFevre, and sister Jeanette Francom.

He is survived by his wife, Diane Mathews, Layton, Utah, and children, Susan (David) Hunter, Peoria, Arizona, Shellie (David) LeFevre, Bountiful, Utah, Sauni (Cary) Henrie, Bountiful, Utah, Steven (Natalie) Mathews, Kaysville, Utah, Shannon (Tim) Curd, Layton, Utah, Scot (Nicole) Mathews, North Salt Lake, Utah, Sally Jensen, Farmington, Utah, siblings, Donna (Dick) Woods, Russell (Donna) Mathews, Lola (Mark) Koppe, 31 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Friday 17 May 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at Lindquist's Layton Mortuary, 1867 N. Fairfield Rd. Layton, Davis, Utah. Friends and family may visit Friday from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. at the mortuary prior to service.

Interment, Nephi Cemetery, 400 N, 500 E. Nephi, Juab, Utah, United State