James Coleman

JAMES BURT COLEMAN

1931-2014

James Burt Coleman, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and brother, died peacefully at home in the presence of his family on November 7, 2014

Born May 29, 1931, in Ogden, Utah, Jim was the third son of Clyde and Jenne Coleman.  He married the prettiest, smartest girl in Ogden, Marilyn Ridges, on October 20, 1950.  After graduating Ogden High School, he spent two years at Weber State College, before transferring to the University of Utah, where he earned a Bachelors Degree in Psychology, and later a Masters Degree in Educational Psychology.

In addition to serving as a Second Lieutenant in the National Guard for 14 years, Jim spent the majority of his professional life working for the Davis County Public School System.  He held the positions of teacher at Wahlquist and Millcreek Junior High Schools, counselor and later Vice Principal at Woods Cross High School.  He was a powerful, gifted educator, who had a profound impact on the lives of his students and colleagues.  Highlights from his distinguished career include a Kiwanis Club Teacher of the Year Award in 1970, as well as many proud and moving moments, such as the time the students of his junior high school class blocked him from joining a teachers’ strike because they so desperately wanted to keep him in the classroom.

During his retirement, Jim served on the Board of the Davis County Public Library, and was a strong believer in life-long learning and the democratic access to information.

Jim was devoted to his family.  He and Marilyn raised four children, modeling for them open-mindedness, a sense of equality, a love of the arts, a belief in the scientific method and a passion for the natural world that they carry with them to this day.

Like his brothers, Jim struck a balance between intellectual pursuits and physical activities.  He was an accomplished swimmer and diver, gymnast, pool player, tennis player, chess player, golfer and fly fisherman.  He loved moving water; he loved his life.  In his own words:  “I married the cutest girl in all the world, raised four wonderful children, had four damn good brothers, and had the best parents a boy could ask for.  How lucky is that?”

Jim was preceded in death by his brother, Robert.  Surviving are his wife, Marilyn; his son, Drew (Laura) Coleman of Henderson, Nevada; his three daughters, Susan (Bob) Rygg of Clover, Utah, Marjorie Rasmussen of Salt Lake City, and Amy Jo (Ozouf) Amedegnato of Calgary, Alberta, Canada; his two brothers, Clair (Kaye) of Salt Lake City, and Ray (Donna) of North Ogden; his seven grandchildren and his three great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Bountiful Davis Art Center or the American Civil Liberties Union.  In accordance with his wishes, funeral services will not be held.  Arrangements entrusted to Lindquist’s Bountiful Mortuary.  Condolences may be shared at www.lindquistmortuary.com

After a lifetime spent examining the great existential questions, he now holds the answers.  He is gone from us-but never, ever forgotten.  “Cokie, the wonder dog!”