James Walton

James Blake Walton passed away from cancer on December 20, 2025, at the age of 67.

Jim was born on December 1, 1958, to Leslie Kenneth Walton and Naida Ruby Harding in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He was the youngest of three sons and had two sisters. He had the happiest of childhoods and was raised in a family that loved to be together, sing together, play together and work together, growing up surrounded by some seriously competitive card sharks. He loved to ski on the water and in the snow.

Jim attended Brigham Young University out of high school and loved performing with the International Folk Dancers. He was a diehard BYU Football Fanatic and rarely, if ever, has missed a game.

He served as a missionary in the Pennsylvania Pittsburgh Mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

After his mission, he returned to BYU where he completed his bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering in August 1983. Three months before he graduated, he met LeAnn Chapman when her date brought her to a party at his house. Jim swept her right off her feet that night when she heard him sing a song he had written about still being in love after a lifetime of marriage. They were sealed in the Mesa Arizona Temple on August 27, 1983, a week after they both graduated. It truly was a match made in heaven.

They stayed at BYU for a year while Jim went on to earn his Masters of Engineering Management.

He took his first job after college with Exxon in Houston, Texas, where they had Dallin. Two years later, they moved to Federal Way, Washington, when he began his employment with the Boeing Company. He earned his Professional Engineering License in Washington in 1998. Devin, Darren, Aubrey, Nathan, Marci and Jamie all joined the family while they were there.

Jim was a very involved dad in his family's lives, which was his highest priority. He was always willing to do whatever it took to support them, often taking the time off work or driving many miles to attend or be a part of the many activities they were involved in.

The family lived in Federal Way for 25 years before moving to Herriman, Utah, in 2012, where Jim would continue working for the Boeing Company. He was part of finding the location, designing and building the Boeing West Jordan plant, which was an absolute dream job for him. He was known for his hard work, dedication, technical expertise and project management.

Jim was always dependable in any assignment he had, and served faithfully in every church calling given him, including nursery leader, (where the kids in nursery cried when their parents came to pick them up), and various elders quorums, bishoprics, and stake presidencies. He was an ordinance worker in the Oquirrh Mountain Temple for his last ten years.

He and his wife, LeAnn, served in the Salt Lake Inner City Mission for nearly three years until he was called back to Herriman to serve as a Stake Patriarch.

Jim loved to be with his family, and music was an important part of his life. He loved singing, playing the piano and guitar and composing music, even recording an album of songs he had written. He loved road trips, bridges, construction projects and big equipment, designing and building anything, hiking, camping, riding motorcycles, and serving in the temple with his wife.

After church on Sundays, he could often be found with a BYU sweatshirt over his white shirt and tie.

He was happy by nature, a hard worker and a peacemaker, positive and generous, supportive and loyal, always willing to help and had the best laugh. He was full of love and so fun to live with. He was quick to apologize and quick to forgive. He loved the Savior with all his heart and his main goal in life was to do whatever the Lord asked him to do.

Jim is survived by his wife of 42 1/2 years, LeAnn (Chapman); children, Dallin (Alezka) of Melbourne, Australia, Devin of Saratoga Springs, Utah, Raine of Camano Island, Washington, Aubrey Field (Robert) of Idaho Falls, Idaho, Nathan, of Saratoga Springs, Utah, Marci Livermore (Matthew) of Pocatello, Idaho, Jamie Sharp (Mckay) of Saratoga Springs, Utah and 12 1/2 grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Mary Walton, (the wife of his deceased brother, David) of Provo, Utah, Janet Wolsey (Terry) of Cardston, Alberta, his brother, Bryce (Sandy) of Calgary, Alberta and his sister Diane Taylor (Jeff) of Calgary, Alberta.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 10, 2026, at 11 am at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meeting house at 14398 South 6400 West, Herriman, Utah. The viewing will immediately precede the funeral at 10 am. Interment at Herriman City Cemetery.