James Shaner

Dr. James G. Shaner

June 1940 ~ December 2017

James Gerald Shaner (Syracuse) passed away peacefully while surrounded by loved ones at Davis Hospital Monday, December 11, 2017. He was 77 years old. Jim (as he preferred to be called) was born June, 20, 1940 in Chicago Illinois. He spent his formative years in Chicago and Milwaukee. Jim received his undergraduate degree at Marquette University of Wisconsin.

He met and fell in love with Elizabeth Louise Shaner while attending the University of Missouri. Both Jim and Liz met while in graduate school and both received their Master’s Degrees from the University of Missouri.  Jim and Liz were married December 26, 1970 in Saint Louis Missouri. They were married for 47 years and had two daughters, Valerie Louise Shaner and Amelia Elizabeth Pernich.

Jim lived in Chicago and Peoria Illinois, Milwaukee Wisconsin, Columbia Missouri, Lititz Pennsylvania and Syracuse Utah. He worked for the Agricultural Education Department at the University of Missouri for over 20 years as a Professor of Communications. While teaching, Jim completed his dissertation and received his doctorate in Communications. He also taught at Elizabethtown College of Pennsylvania and more recently at Weber State University along with University of Phoenix.

He was an avid photographer, an accomplished journalist who enjoyed taking photographs of Utah parks and family. He also enjoyed coin and stamp collecting, was a history buff and loved WWII era airplanes. He was especially proud of his daughters Valerie and Amelia and loved his wife Liz with all of his heart.

Jim is survived by his wife Elizabeth Louise Shaner, his daughter, Amelia Elizabeth Pernich and his son-in-law Karl Michael Pernich. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Valerie Louise Shaner, his father, James E. Shaner and his mother, Florence “Georgia” Shaner.

Thank you to the ICU staff of Davis Hospital for their care and expertise.

Memorial services will be held Monday, December 18, 2017 at 2 p.m. at Lindquist’s Layton Mortuary, 1867 N. Fairfield Rd. Friends may visit with family from 1 to 1:45 p.m. at the mortuary.