James Russell Laney

James Russell Laney

1944 ~ 2025

San Diego, CA-Hero. Renaissance man. Soft spoken. Funny. Considerate. Generous. Sky diver. Engineer. Woodland firefighter. These are some of the ways James Russell Laney will be remembered.

James R. Laney died May 6, 2025, in San Diego, California, after an extended illness. He was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, on June 20, 1944, to Russell Judd (Ash) and Mary Louise (Kitty) Laney, the first of five children. He is survived by siblings Kathy (Kate), Carol, and Bob. He was predeceased by his parents and sister, Allyson.

Jim's fondest memories were of his youth in Springville, Utah, surrounded by his parents and siblings and what he later called "the old family" - grandparents James French (Jim) and Ruby Wingate, George C. and Agnes Laney. There were also many uncles, aunts, cousins, friends and acquaintances.

Ah, Springville! Jim learned to play ball there and was a great pitcher! We fondly remember his games, many coached by his dad with a sister keeping score. He also enjoyed swimming at Park Ro She, walking all the way out to the fish hatchery to buy the coldest coke in town, playing marbles (and winning the marble tournament at Brookside Elementary), and competing in the annual Soapbox Derby. He especially loved fishing trips up Hobble Creek with his Grandfather Wingate (Bapa), who would carry him all the way up on his back as a youngster.

Jim attended school in Hanau, Germany; Springville, Utah; and Granger, Utah; graduating from Granger High School as a Sterling Scholar in 1962. He earned a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Utah, and a Master's degree in English from the University of Oklahoma. He was an avid Sooner fan to the end! He consistently excelled scholastically.

Jim served in the United States Army from 1967-69. He trained at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and served in Vietnam in B Battery 1/8 Artillery, 25th Infantry Division, where he received the Bronze Star.

Summers spent working for the BLM in Nevada lead to his early career with the bureau, which initially took him to Durango, Colorado. The place and the people he became friends with there left a lasting mark on Jim's heart. Jeeping up into the San Juan Mountains, hanging out at the Strater Hotel, and enjoying Friday afternoons with friends at the Ore House were lasting memories.

He later returned to school and obtained a Master's degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Texas. He went on to work for Texas Instruments, Motorola, National Semiconductor, and Lam Research. During this time, Jim spent many years living in Vermont and New York, where he also formed lasting friendships. Two years ago, he moved to San Diego to be near family.

Jim was an avid reader and wonderful conversationalist. He was well versed in classic literature, science, history, music, and poetry. He always had a houseful of books that the rest of the family envied. He loved visiting Montana and made many a fall pilgrimage to take in a Montana Grizzly football game or two and drive Montana's scenic byways and highways.

Jim never married but was definitely a family man. He maintained close relationships with his family and enjoyed the holidays, evenings working on jigsaw puzzles, playing games, or engrossed in discussions on a wide range of topics.

We'll be honoring Jim at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 27, at the Springville Public Library Meeting Room, 45 S Main Street, Springville Utah. If you knew Jim, please join us.