James Lynn Slade Jr.

Jim was born on 17 December 1943 in Durango, LaPlata, Colorado, the oldest son of James Lynn and Mary Alice McGuigan Slade. He grew up with his siblings, Dean and Diane, moving over 30 times to various locations in Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Nevada by the time he graduated from high school.

Jim graduated from Overton High in Overton, Nevada, in 1962. After serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Irish Mission from 1963 to 1965, he completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Design and Drafting Technology from Brigham Young University in 1970.

Jim married Karin Heaton on 4 June 1966 in the St. George Temple in St. George, Utah, and they celebrated their 60th anniversary last month. Together, they enjoyed traveling to Europe, Egypt, Peru, Canada, and a plethora of states in the U.S. Some of their favorite trips were visiting various temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Together, they built a legacy of family with six children, twenty-five grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

Jim began his career as a draftsman for heating and air conditioning companies. He built his vocation on being inventive, reliable, and always figuring out a way to do tasks that others couldn’t or wouldn’t do. In addition to engineering, he worked in various other industries, including software, sales, production, and as a building engineer. He was president of Nirak Enterprises – a professional cleaning company. There was not a skill or task that he could not perform – he just figured out a way to do it and did it with perfection. At home, he designed sprinkler systems, installed outdoor patios and spaces, finished basements, designed yards, kept bees, sewed, and yes, cooked – when his wife would allow it.

Jim found great joy in the gospel of Jesus Christ and in serving his Heavenly Father by serving others. He believed in modern-day prophets and strove to follow their counsel. He loved reading the scriptures and especially loved the guidance found in the 13 Articles of Faith. He served in many positions in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving in the Elders Quorum, High Priest Group, Sunday School, Primary, Boy Scouts, and as a counselor in the bishopric. From 2007 - 2010, he served with his wife as an inner-city missionary supporting a ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Magna, Utah. He served for many years as an ordinance worker at the Oquirrh Mountain Temple, taking the shift fewer people wanted and covering for those who needed to miss their assignment. He voluntarily cleaned up after every church activity and was the first to sign up to clean the church building. Besides his church service, he could be found fixing neighbors’ sprinkler systems, shoveling their walks, picking weeds, or just taking their garbage totes to the curb. Of all the labels that could identify Jim, the most important to him was that he was a child of God, a child of the covenant, and a disciple of Jesus Christ.

Surviving are his wife, Karin; children: Lisa (Dean) Ertel, Dennis (Heather) Slade, Devan (Andrea) Slade, Brian (Pam) Slade, Anthony (Rae) Slade, Michael (Susannah) Slade; brother, Dean (Susan) Slade. Twenty-five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Preceding Jim in death are granddaughter, RaeLynn Slade; parents, Lynn and Mary Alice Slade; sister and brother-in-law, Diane and Gary Tavares.

A viewing will be held on Thursday, July 16, 2026, from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at 5658 W. Yukon Park Lane (12200 S.), Herriman, Utah 84096, and Friday, July 17, 2026, from 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Funeral services will be held on July 17, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. at the same location.

Funeral Service Broadcast Link: https://sites.google.com/view/jim-slade/jim-slade-funeral

Please have floral arrangements delivered to 3401 South Highland Drive, Millcreek, UT 84106 Or the Church 5658 W. Yukon Park Lane (12200 S.), Herriman, Utah 84096