James Allen Garner

JAMES ALLEN GARNER

April 11, 1937 – August 29, 2025

James Allen Garner passed away quietly on Friday, August 29, 2025.

Jim was born April 11, 1937, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Edwin Tolman Garner and Rebecca Magdalene Carlsen. He grew up in Salt Lake City and Murray, Utah and spent most of his summers in Ogden, Utah. Jim loved his younger years and fondly recalled chasing trains, catching snakes, attending carnivals and rodeos, running on the hot sidewalk with his bare feet, swimming, getting lost in the mountains with his siblings, and visiting family members.

Jim attended Murray High School and was later called to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to Finland. He was very proud of his ability to speak the Finnish language, and each time a family member had a birthday, he was excited to sing “Hyvää syntymäpäivää” to them.

After serving his mission, Jim joined the Air Force Reserves and attended basic training at Lackland AFB in Texas. While he was there, he decided to ask his sweetheart, Karen Bradley, to marry him. He called her on the phone and proposed. Later that week, Karen had her sisters all gather around the phone and shout ”Yes!” They were married on June 24, 1960 in the Salt Lake Temple and raised four sons together. Jim referred to Karen as the greatest blessing he ever received.

In 1963, during the Cuban Missile Crisis, Jim was stationed at Hill Air Force Base with the 945 Troop Carrier Squadron. He was placed on active duty for just over a month. While he was not deployed, he was proud to have been prepared and called to defend his country, if needed. In 1967, after an honorable discharge from the Air Force Reserves, Jim applied with the Bountiful City Police Department where he served for 23 years in various capacities including patrolman, detective, and sergeant.

Jim was proud to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and enjoyed serving in the temple many times throughout his life. His testimony was one of his greatest treasures, and he spent countless hours studying scriptures, talks, and various gospel materials.

Jim struggled with health issues through the last several months of his life. We are very grateful to Dignity Hospice, particularly Daniel, for providing such incredible care and friendship to Jim during these difficult months. Jim was grateful for and looked forward to Daniel’s visits each day.

Jim is survived by his sons Troy (Jane) Garner, Todd (Christine) Garner, and Brian (Kimberly) Garner; half-sister Charlene (Kent) Coleman; 13 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his dear wife Karen; son, Jason; granddaughter, Tara; parents, Edwin Garner and Rebecca Carlson; sister, Shirley Gifford; brothers Ronald Garner, Kenneth Garner, and half-brother Dale Gardner.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am, Friday, September 5, 2025, at Lindquist’s Bountiful Mortuary (727 N. 400 E., Bountiful, Utah), where friends may visit family from 9:00 -10:30 am prior to services.

Services will be live-streamed and may be viewed by scrolling to the bottom of Jim's obituary page.