James Archie Morgan

James Archie Morgan, 81, graduated this life peacefully at his home following a short illness and returned to the embrace of his loving Heavenly Father, April 2, 2025.

Jim was born January 10, 1944 to Dean Walker & Helen Robinson Morgan, the second of six children. At birth, he had an older sister, Sheryl, and in the coming years Nora, Ann, Joe & Mike were added to the family.

Jim grew up in what then was the sleepy farming community of Layton, Utah. He was raised in that farming lifestyle, learning to work alongside his father and grandfather raising crops and tending livestock. Through this upbringing, Jim learned the value of hard work as well as the skills running equipment and driving truck that would serve him in making a living throughout his life.

As part of farm life, Jim also learned a love of horses that carried with him into adulthood. Because he didn’t like to ride bareback like many of his friends did, Jim taught himself how to saddle a horse at the age of nine. Jim had many adventures riding his horse, along with his buddies, into the foothills above Layton. Sometimes those adventures lasted long enough into the day that they became overnight stays, much to the concern of his mother, Helen.

In the fall of 1961, Jim met a beautiful cosmetology student in Ogden named Judy Satterthwaite, and he was smitten. We are not sure if it was his boyish charm, devilishly handsome good looks or his awesome ’56 Ford’ that won Judy’s heart, but whatever it was, we are glad he did.

Jim & Judy were married January 22, 1962, and JoyLynne joined the family later that year. In following years, the family would continue to grow as Jeff, Jason & Justin were added to the mix. Life was not always easy and money was often tight for this young and growing family, but Jim and Judy worked hard every day to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table all while teaching their kids the same work ethic that they both knew so well. That union, while not always easy, and sometimes rocky, has lasted more than 63 years and has created a family and legacy that will continue even in his passing.

Jim began his career working with his grandfather at the Morgan Feedmill, and driving truck over the road, usually hauling turkeys for Uncle Golden, but he spent most of his working life in the construction industry. Jim could run any piece of equipment that he put his hand to. From his bucket Cat digging basements all over Davis County, to excavators in the oil fields of Wyoming and Montana and eventually large snow plows, blowers and sweepers on the runways and airstrips of Hill Air Force Base, Jim could do it all.

In 1963 Jim began one of the greatest adventures of his life, and one that brought him great pride and joy, by joining the Layton City fire department as a volunteer. Jim quickly rose in the ranks in the department showing his worth to fire chief, John H. Adams, and was given the position of pump truck driver and engineer. Jim filled this position for most of the 25 years that he served, taking pride in doing his job well and always getting water to the boys at the end of the line when and how it was needed. Through his time on the department and membership in the Utah Firefighter’s Association, Jim gained and kept many dear and lifelong friends. Jim was very proud that this year would mark his 60th year as a member of that Association.

As mentioned before, Jim had a great love of horses and was a great horseman. Jim spent many happy days riding high in the saddle on his buckskin, Old Smoke. As he rode alongside his dad, brothers, sons and friends, he always looked very much like his idol, John Wayne. These wonderful, fun-filled days were spent in the ‘Alps’ above Mountain Green, the Uintah Mountains and the ‘Hardscrabble’ area of the Wasatch Back hunting deer, elk and moose as well as fishing trips in the Wind River Mountains of Wyoming. One of those fishing trips to the Wind Rivers even taught him and his brother, Mike, a very hard and expensive lesson about Wyoming law and catching spawning cutthroat trout with your hands and not legal tackle. Fortunately for him, he chose to take the family along on that mosquito filled trip, so they got to witness firsthand that lesson being learned.

Although Jim took great pride in his work and as a firefighter, his greatest joy came from his family. On the final night of his life, his home was filled with his posterity, expressing the love and admiration that we all feel for this great man. Through that evening, as husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather he expressed love to all of us through his humor, wit and tenderness even though he was fading and didn’t feel well. Our family will forever be blessed through him to be part of the Morgan lineage and legacy. He has taught us that bearing the Morgan name and being part of this family means we love each other and are fiercely loyal to one another.

James is survived by his wife, Judy, daughter JoyLynne (Rus), son Jeffery (Marianne), son Jason (Rhonda) & son Justin (Jadee). Jim & Judy also have 16 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.

James was proceeded in death by his parents, Dean Walker Morgan, his mother, Helen Robinson Morgan, his granddaughter, Bailey Rupe and his daughter in-law, DeAnn Morgan.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday April 8, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. at the Evergreen Chapel, 2435 E. Canyon Rim Rd., Layton, Utah. Family and friends may visit Monday April 7 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lindquist’s Layton Mortuary, 1867 N. Fairfield Rd., Layton, Utah and Tuesday from 11:30 to 12:30 p.m. at the church.

Interment, Lindquist’s Memorial Park at Layton.

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