James was born 21 October 1928 in Sugarhouse, Utah to Carlton and Annie Griffin Crookston and had three brothers: Glen, Richard, and Steven. He attended schools in Sugarhouse and Salt Lake City, graduated from South High School, and enrolled at USU when he was 16. After 18 months in the U.S. Army Medical Corp James served a 2 ½ -year mission to Argentina for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. James married DeLilah Lucile Fuller on 29 August 1951 in the Mesa Arizona Temple.
As a youth James spent two adventurous summers working for the Forest Service. After his mission he earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Utah and was an elementary school teacher and media specialist for 34 years, employed summers as a carpenter. In 1977 he earned a Master’s degree from the U of U. Following retirement in 1987 James and Lucy served from 1992-1994 in the Portugal Mission. After their mission they enjoyed Brighton’s trees, wildflowers, animals, and friends. For almost 15 years James served in the Branch Presidency and they helped at Brighton Girls Camp. James served in the Jordan River Temple from the time it opened in 1981; he always said that the Jordan River was his temple. James and Lucy moved to South Jordan in 2008.
James loved the mountains and after his marriage in Arizona returned to Utah so he could be near the Uintah Mountains and its forests and streams. His favorite hobbies were building, gardening, fishing, and hunting.
James was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He is remembered for his integrity, kindness, patience, peacemaking, concern, and empathy. James felt his greatest wordly achievement was being a dependable son, husband, father, friend, neighbor, and employee.
James faithfully and diligently served with wisdom, knowledge, and understanding in multiple leadership callings for the Church: counselor to bishops, a stake president, and branch president; scout leader, high councilman, bishop, branch president; president of Granger East Stake 1983-1992. As a leader he offered loving counsel and selfless service to thousands of people.
James is survived by six children: Michael (Sue) Crookston (South Jordan, UT), Mark (Myra) Crookston (Loveland, CO), Karen (Joshua) Holt (Rexburg, ID), Daniel (Karen) Crookston (South Jordan, UT), Cathryn (Kevin) Davies (Smithfield, UT), and Grant (Mary) Crookston (SLC, UT); 26 grandchildren and 61 great-grandchildren. James was preceeded in death by his wife Lucy, his parents, his brothers Glen and Richard, and his sisters-in-law Pat and Marty.
Family and friends are invited to honor James’s legacy at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Brighton Branch, 8171 State Rte 152, Brighton UT 84121, on Thursday, 29 August 2019 at 11:00 A.M. A viewing will be held prior to the service from 6:00-8:00 P.M. on Wednesday, 28 August at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park 3401 Highland Dr., Salt Lake City, Utah 84106 and Thursday 29 August 10:00-10:45 A.M. at the Brighton Branch Chapel. Interment will be in the Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park.
The family thanks the staff of Legacy House of South Jordan and Quality Home Health and Hospice for their tender care of our family patriarch. In lieu of flowers friends are encouraged to donate to Humanitarian Aid Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
