Jack G. Ayre

Jack Gaylord Ayre, 69, passed away quickly and without pain following a ruptured aortic aneurysm on March 4, 2015 at home surrounded by the love of his family. Jack was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, the second of three sons to Jack and Nan Randolph Ayre. As a young man he learned to play the saxophone, clarinet and flute and enjoyed being active in various musical organizations. He graduated from Highland High School in 1963 and served in the National Guard. After serving a mission in Austria for the LDS Church, Jack attended the University of Utah where he graduated with a BA in Banking and Finance. He married Linda Cain in the Salt Lake Temple on June 12, 1968. The joy of his life has been his sweetheart and family of eight children; five daughters and three sons.

Jack lived an active and dynamic professional life. He had a broad range of experience as an investment banker and had companies that sold precious metals, gems, commodities and real estate. A visionary who was often ahead of his time, he grasped the potential of computer technology and was on the cutting edge of using it in marketing and education. He packed the passion and work of ten men into his career and could fill a book with his adventures.

Jack served in many capacities in the Church. He was most passionate about his callings as an ordinance worker at the Jordan River Temple and as an institute teacher at the Utah State Prison, the Salt Lake County Jail and the University of Utah Institute. He also was a missionary in the Addiction Recovery Program for the LDS Church. He was a blessing to those he served and they were a blessing to him.

He was loved for his spiritual sensitivities, work ethic, honesty, tender-heartedness, spontaneity and quirky sense of humor. He lived with difficult, long-term illnesses, but “drank the bitter cup without becoming bitter.” In his later years, he spent what little energy he had to provide for and connect with his precious family.

Jack is survived by his wife of 47 years, Linda; his children and their spouses, Tiffany Kirkham, Joshua (Caralee) Ayre, Mindy (Jared) DeGraffenried, Isaac (Kristy) Ayre, Elizabeth (Jonathan) Fuller, Sarah (Kriss) Skeem and Jonathan Ayre (Nathan Tanner); 28 grandchildren and brothers Randy and Brent Ayre. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Nan Ayre, infant daughter, Nicole and infant granddaughter, Georgia.

The family would like to thank all the doctors and nurses who have cared for him over the years, particularly the staff at Thoracic ICU of the Intermountain Medical Center and Rocky Mountain Hospice.

A viewing will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 pm, Friday, March 13, 2015 at Wasatch Lawn Mortuary, 3401 Highland Drive, Salt Lake City, Utah. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, March 14, 2015, at the LDS Little Cottonwood 16th Ward Chapel located at 6350 South Rodeo Lane, Murray, Utah. There will be a viewing from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. at the chapel before the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Missionary or Humanitarian Fund of the LDS Church.