Jim's Death

Jim's death was really interesting. I was the Cub Master in Santa Cruz 2nd Ward. I had a big Cub Pack Meeting and my dad was in Dominican Hospital waiting to have hip surgery the next day. Kaye was at the church and all the Cubs and parents were there waiting for the pack meeting to start. I felt a strong feeling that I needed to go see my dad at the hospital right then. I told Kaye I was leaving to go to the hospital. She said, "What am I supposed to do about the pack meeting?" I said, "I've got to go, you take care of the meeting." She was mad, but I left. My dad and I had a real nice talk. My dad was really clear and he didn't want to talk about his srugery the next day. I was telling him we'd both be in the hospital together because I had a sinus surgery scheduled in two days because of a car wreck that I was in that caused me real sinus problems. We talked about everything and had a nice talk. Afterwards I went back to the church and picked up Kaye. The next morning, which was Kaye's birthday, we got a call that dad had died during the night. I know the Holy Ghost inspired me to leave the pack meeting and go visit with my dad. Also that morning Cindy called us from BYU, Provo, and said she had got a ride home with a friend. She didn't know why she needed to come home, but she felt that she needed to come home. We told her that Grandpa Jim had died during the night. Then she knew why the Holy Ghost had prompted her to come home. It wasn't a break or vacation during that time.

Dr. Long wanted to do an autopsy, but I didn't think Jim would want that so I told him no. Over 20 years later we found out they had done an autopsy unbeknowest to us. They didn't determine that cause of his death. His coronary arteries were all clear in spite of his smoking and very fatty diet that he ate. After he was embalmed he was flown to Virden, New Mexico, where he had a large turnout of relatives and friends at the Virden Chapel. He was buried in the Virden cemetary. We flew down for the funeral.

Jim was 82 years old. He was born in Thatcher, Arizona, on October 19, 1896. He died April 8, 1978.