James Luther "Jim" Carneal

1926 - 2018

Former Blythe resident James "Jim" Luther Carneal passed away at the age of 92 on May 18, 2018, at his home in Indian Wells, California, with his wife, Verna, at his side. He was born on February 12, 1926, in Roy, New Mexico, to James Luther and Celete Laura Kidd Carneal.

Jim was raised on farms in New Mexico, where he developed a strong work ethic in childhood. By age eight, he was driving a four-horse team behind a harrow, and his responsibilities grew as he became older. He graduated from Los Lunas High School at the age of 16 and spent six months working for the railroad as part of a signal-repair gang, living in boxcars. Soon after this adventure, his family moved to a farm in beautiful Halfway, Oregon, a setting that always held a special place in his heart.

With parental consent, he enlisted in the Navy at age 17 and was sent to Officer Training School at UC Berkeley, where he earned his naval commission while also completing requirements for a degree in agricultural economics.

Upon graduation, Jim took a job in Twin Falls, Idaho. There he met his future wife, Vera Verna Morgan, on a blind date. They were married in Twin Falls on August 13, 1947. The young couple moved to San Francisco when Jim was recruited to work for a commercial produce company. He enjoyed being out in the field, traveling to farms to broker deals for crops.

Still in the Naval Reserve, Jim was called up in 1950 for the Korean Conflict and spent a year aboard the heavy cruiser USS Bremerton, where he served as lieutenant. Following his discharge, he returned to San Francisco. Subsequent job changes took the family to California's Central Valley and then to Blythe, California, in 1962, where he accepted a position as an agricultural appraiser for Security Pacific Bank (now part of BofA). Later, he transitioned to a career as a cattle broker, for which Blythe, "the feedlot capital of the world" at that time, was an ideal location.

Jim and Verna were active in the lives of their three children and enjoyed supporting them in their many activities. Jim was elected to the school board and eventually served as its president. He also served on the fair board for Riverside County.

In 1983, Jim and Verna moved to the Coachella Valley where Jim became the manager of Riverside County Fairgrounds. He supervised the well-known Indio National Date Festival, and his grandchildren well remember going to the fair every February, where Grandpa loved to spoil them with the special treatment of fair food, rides on elephants and giraffes, and unlimited tickets for midway rides. Approaching retirement age, Jim, always driven by work, entered a new career in real estate.

Jim became a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the age of 77, and he and Verna were sealed in the San Diego Temple a year later. They enjoyed the many friendships they made through church, and Jim served in various callings where he took great pleasure in helping others as a home teacher.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Denzel Jackson Bordson; great-grandson, Oliver Jack Sanofsky. He is survived by his wife of nearly seventy years, Verna, as well as daughter, Teresa Kay (Kenneth) Sanofsky of Alpine, Utah; sons Bruce Luther (Kathryn) Carneal of Del Mar, California, and Jeffrey Jay Carneal (Billy Pick) of Washington, D.C.; grandchildren Erika (Bryce) Loveland of Las Vegas, Nevada, and Jack (Melissa) Sanofsky of Rocklin, California; great-grandchildren Caroline Loveland, Ivy June Loveland, Henry Loveland, and Lila Ann Sanofsky.

Funeral services will be Saturday, May 26, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 40840 Washington Street, Bermuda Dunes, California. Visitation is at 9 a.m., followed by services at 10 a.m. Interment will be at Desert Memorial Park, Cathedral City, California.

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