James "Jim" Paul O'Neal

James Paul O’Neal was born on September 7, 1940 in Chattanooga, Tennessee to James Lester O’Neal, Jr. and Kathlyn L. Long. Jim spent his early years growing up with his younger sister, Lynn, in Chattanooga Valley (located in northwestern Georgia). After that, the family lived for a short time in Aurora, Illinois. Jim wrote, “I’ll never forget the first snow I saw. I ran out barefoot on the wooden back porch and my feet froze to the wood. Mother had to pour warm water on them to get them off.” Then Jim’s father was transferred to Harlinger, Texas. Jim used to go to the beach on Padre Island for picnics and fishing. Jim and Lynn went to elementary school and junior high there.

Just after Jim started high school, the family moved back to Chattanooga. Jim worked in his grandfather’s construction company in the summers and graduated from Chattanooga High School. When Jim was 20 years old, the missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints knocked on his door. Reflecting on his search for truth, Jim wrote “I offered a simple prayer asking if the church was true and a feeling of warmth and complete assurance came over me. I experienced a type of joy I had never felt before and I know my life was changed forever.” Jim was baptized in Chattanooga, Tennessee on October 8, 1961.

A few months later Jim travelled to Utah and enrolled at Brigham Young University in Provo. The following summer he met Leah Lenore Jackson in a religion class. Fifty years later Jim wrote “The religion class, by the way, was “The Pearl of Great Price” and that is always what Leah has been for me.” They were married on July 22, 1966 in the Manti, Utah temple, after Jim returned from serving in the army. Jim and Leah were blessed with five children: Kathy, Alicia, Becky, Laura, and John. Jim was very involved with his children as they grew up, and the family enjoyed camping near good fishing spots. Jim and Leah also encouraged their children to love reading. When Leah needed a break, Jim would take the children to the library. He would find books for the older children and then hold the baby on his lap while he read magazines.

Jim graduated from BYU and worked for sporting goods stores and as a fishing guide for most of his life in Utah and Arizona. He also tied and sold fishing flies, working quickly and carefully while listening to classical music on the radio. Most recently, Jim has worked as a guide in Heber City, Utah, taking clients fly fishing on the Provo River with his business partner and friend, Dan Allan. Jim and Dan also created many instructional fly fishing videos.

Leah passed away in 2014 and Jim helped to care for her in her final days. In 2019, Jim was introduced to Joan Jacobson by Phil Bair, a fishing buddy. Jim and Joan were married on November 7, 2019. They spent a wonderful and very memorable but far too short year and a half together. Jim was welcomed into a new family and embraced them as his own.

Jim taught his children and grandchildren to fish, along with many others. More than that, Jim always shared his knowledge of nature and his love of the outdoors. Jim stayed informed on political issues and was a champion of environmental causes. He also loved photography and captured beautiful nature shots along with many family memories. Jim loved music. He took his children to concerts and encouraged them to sing together. Jim has participated in many ward choirs and has written his own words for many hymns. He enjoyed gardening, growing vegetables, herbs, and roses.

Jim was preceded in death by his father, James Lester O’Neal Jr, his mother, Kathlyn Long O’Neal, and his first wife Leah Lenore Jackson O’Neal. He is survived by his second wife Joan LaRae Holdaway Jacobson O'Neal, sister Lynn O’Neal Law, his five children Kathlyn (Jim) Cline, Alicia Ann (Buddy) Pohl, Rebecca Lynn (Martin B.) Robinette, Laura Renee (Floid) Gilbert, and John Paul O’Neal, and his five step-children Cindy (Marty) Wilcox, Christy (Nick) Mitchell, Carrie (Dan) Price, Steven Jacobson, and Cheri Jacobson. He is also survived by two nieces and a nephew, nineteen grandchildren, eleven great grandchildren, sixteen step grandchildren, and twelve step great grandchildren.

Services will be held 11 am Thursday, May 20 at Valley View Funeral Home 4335 W 4100 S West Valley City, Utah with a viewing that morning at the same location from 9:45 am to 10:45 am. Internment will be at the Orem City Cemetery.