James (Jim) William Roberts

Jim was born on a cold morning in Rock Springs, Wyoming on March 5, 1936, and passed away on Sunday evening, November 26, 2017. Born to James H. Roberts and Dorcas Dunn Roberts, he was the eldest brother of John (Jack), Eugene (Gene) D., and Dorcas Eluise (Eluise). As a young man, Jim served an LDS mission in Hong Kong and grew to love the people there and serving the Lord. Jim spoke Cantonese and loved to converse with native speakers of the language.

After returning from his mission, Jim married Deanna Jean Goodsell and they had three daughters, Janet, Lanette, and Amanda. They later divorced. Jim worked for Engineering Consortium, Amalgamated Sugar, and Hercules. Jim married Bertha Joan Naylor Shields in 1978. He was a devoted husband and Joan was the love of his life.

Jim was a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and had a strong testimony of the gospel. He served in many callings in his beloved Midvale 7th Ward, but his favorite was teaching Sunday School. When he wasn't teaching he was asking in-depth questions of the person that was teaching. Jim was a relentless tease, from faking great pain when the grandchildren would slap his hand to give him five, to telling all three of his girls that he loved them and it wasn't just because it was the state law.

Jim and Joan were active in their community and were both named Midvale City Citizens of the year. After they both retired, they served several missions at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Jim learned to cook in the Utah National Guard and loved preparing meals. Jim and Joan loved feeding people. Jim loved fishing, genealogy, chocolate ice cream, and the Utah Jazz. He loved watching all sports. Jim also loved his 22 grandchildren and 44 great grandchildren and his greatest joy was seeing the children light up when they saw their Grandma Joan.

Jim is survived by his daughters Janet Lott, Lanette Roberts, and Amanda (Jon) Nielsen; 22 grandchildren and 44 great grandchildren; his sweet sister aka Sis, Eluise (Wayne) Flitton, and Joan's children, Steve (Brenda) Shields, Janene Allred and Paula (Randy) Nagle; sisters-in-law Frances Applegate and Wanda Naylor, and brother-in-law Neldon Condor.

Preceded in death by his wife, Joan Naylor Roberts; his parents James H Roberts and Dorcas Roberts Crowley; his brothers Jack and Gene, his son-in-law, Joseph Lott and nephew Kent Flitton.

Services will include a viewing on Friday, December 1, 2017 from 6-8 p.m. with another viewing on Saturday, December 2, 2017 from 9:45-10:45 a.m. with a funeral service at 11 taking place at Goff Mortuary, 8090 S. State Street, Midvale, Utah.