James DeMoux

James Bryce DeMoux

February 28, 1944 ~ October 4, 2019

Our father, grandfather, husband, uncle, and friend, James Bryce DeMoux, passed away peacefully, surrounded by love and family, on October 4, 2019.  Jim was born on February 28, 1944 in Eureka, California. He spent his formative years living with his Grandfather in the farming community of La Center, Washington and graduated as part of a class of about 30 in 1962 from La Center High School.

After high school, Jim moved to Provo to attend Brigham Young University, where he was an outstanding debater.  A fellow debater brought Jim to a birthday party for her roommate, a smart elementary school teacher, (and Utah State alum), named Louise Kerr.  He was Louise’s best present ever. They were married on May 31, 1967 in Tremonton Utah and spent their honeymoon in the ghost town of Custer, Idaho, where Jim lived while working for the Forest Service.  Their marriage was solemnized for time and all eternity at the Ogden Temple, on March 16, 1978.

Upon Jim graduating from BYU, Jim and Louise entered the “vagabond” phase of their marriage.  They spent a year in Missoula where Jim earned a Masters at the University of Montana. Then they spent a year in Logan where Jim taught at Utah State University.  While there, their first child, a girl named Marnie Micheale, was born. Unfortunately, she passed away the same day.

After a two year stop at the University of Colorado-Boulder to complete Jim’s coursework for a PhD in Communications, Jim, Louise, and their newly born son Benjamin, settled in Boise, Idaho, where Jim taught communications and photography for eleven years at Boise State University.

In 1983, the family, now five boys strong, moved from Boise to Bountiful, Utah and Jim began a long career as a communications consultant and corporate trainer.  After the boys were grown, Jim and Louise moved for his last time, to Jim’s dream home in Ogden, Utah. There they had unruly fruit trees, massive amounts of flowers, several iterations of their “last cat” and most importantly, frontage right on the Ogden River.

Jim had been a devoted fisherman his entire life and became a particularly devoted fly-fisherman thanks to his fellow BSU professor Bob Boren. He crafted numerous articles for fishing magazines and wrote the Flyfisher’s Guide to Utah.  For a person looking to enjoy fly fishing in Utah, it was practically holy writ.

In his dedication to Flyfisher’s Guide, Jim wrote: “For my wife Louise who expressed neither surprise or dismay at receiving hip boots from me for her wedding present and who understands that the desire to fish is slightly less compelling than drawing breath.”

His life and ours changed in the summer of 2013 when he had a stroke a few days after returning from a family trip to Yellowstone National Park. The stroke took away his left arm and left him unable to do many of the things he loved, including fishing.  This was hard on him and sometimes it showed, but he did his best to keep his sense of humor. (And he’d lost most of his filter by that point, so those of us who were parents sometimes had to “pre-screen” his jokes). During those years he was cared for by his beloved wife Louise and his son Micah and kept company by several spoiled cats.  We are grateful for Louise’s and Micah’s selfless service.

Throughout his life, Jim was a kind and gracious man.  He loved his family and placed great value in spending time with them. In his professional life, he was known as someone who valued the contribution of everyone in an organization--regardless of position or education.  He was thoughtful, witty, and funny.

He also loved serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and used his teaching skills as president of Young Men and the Elder’s Quorum and in almost every possible teaching position in the Church.  His speaking skills as a High Councilman kept some Sundays from being “Dry Council” Sundays. His testimony, kind ways, unconditional love, and sense of humor were the foundation of his service.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Dade, his daughter Marnie, and his fishing buddy Sid Jensen.  He is survived by his wife Louise, his sons Benjamin (Lisa), Micah, Jordan (Kim), Joshua (Melissa) and Christian (Tricia), 16 grandchildren, his sisters Sunny and Lea, numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews, and three cats: Asia, Ruckus, and Jack.  He will be missed.

The family wishes to extend special thanks to the staff at McKay Dee Hospital and Intermountain Medical Center for their kindness, compassion, and professionalism during Jim’s last illness.

Services will be held on Saturday, October 12, 2019 at 2 p.m. at the ward house at 770 15th Street, Ogden, Utah.  You can come and mingle with the family from 1 to 2 p.m. at the church. At Jim’s insistence, the service will be one hour or less.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to your favorite conservation or children’s charity or to the missionary fund of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.