James Steele

James Lindsay Steele

January 5, 1936 – May 28, 2017

It is with tender hearts we say goodbye for a time to our loving dad, grandpa, uncle, brother, nephew, cousin and husband, James (Jim) Lindsay Steele; who slipped away peacefully on Sunday, May 28, 2017 with his loving family by his side.

Born January 5, 1936 in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Colin McKay and Ruth Lindsay Edward, Jim was so tiny and feeble at birth that his mother cradled him in a shoebox the first few months of his life. No doubt, this early will to survive, became the tenacity that helped shape many of his life’s accomplishments.

One of Jim’s major accomplishments was the successful courtship of his one true love, Charlene Johns. After several years of buttering up Charlene’s father, Jim’s future father-in-law gave his blessing with the caveat, “if you can afford her, you can marry her.”  Knowing he couldn’t afford not to marry her, on September 16, 1960 Jim was sealed to Charlene for time and all eternity in the Los Angeles, California, LDS Temple.

Of course Jim’s greatest accomplishment in life was being a loving husband and father. He magnified this calling while continuing his doctorate at the University of Southern California’s School of Dentistry. For him, cleaning dental offices at night, going to school during the day, and being a father 24/7 meant his love of a perfectly structured life would have to be woven into his new love of being a dad. With his head always in a medical book, Jim occasionally bathed his young boys with their socks still on, but took comfort knowing their teeth would always be sparkling clean. After graduating from USC, Jim began practicing dentistry in Lynwood, California. He eventually moved his practice to Kaysville, Utah where later in life he retired from dentistry.

Jim was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He willingly served in various ward and stake capacities including full-time missionary service in Germany, and Bishop of the Lynwood, California Ward. Later in life, he was blessed to serve with Charlene as a full-time senior missionary, at the LDS Visitor Center in Kirtland, Ohio. Jim was also actively involved in the lives of his children and grandchildren. He could often be seen carrying two, “well seasoned,” folding lawn chairs to football, baseball, basketball, soccer, and lacrosse games; or sporting a white shirt and his favorite blue cardigan at school choir concerts, science fairs, academic award nights, and graduations. No matter the event, Jim was always the greatest cheerleader for his family… minus the pom-poms.

The legacy Jim leaves behind enriches the lives of those who have survived him: his wife and only true love of 56 years, Charlene; his children David & Marge Steele, Kevin & Jessica Steele, Brent & Angela Steele, Chris & Janene Jensen, Jim and Sarah Steele, John and Kelly Steele, 27 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren,  one brother, Vernon F. Steele and his wife Yvonne H. Steele.

Life will never be the same without Jim. His love for his family, and the patriarchal mantel he bore will be sorely missed. However, we find comfort in the knowledge that families are forever, and that we will be together with him again.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, June 3, 2017 at 11 a.m. at the Fruit Heights Country Lane Ward Chapel, 24 So. Country Lane, Fruit Heights.  Friends may visit family on Friday, June 2, 2017 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lindquist’s Layton Mortuary, 1867 No. Fairfield Road and Saturday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the church.

Interment, Lindquist’s Memorial Park at Layton, 1867 No. Fairfield Road.