James Beck

James LeRoy Beck

1946 ~ 2021

James “Jim, Jimmy” LeRoy Beck passed away July 25, 2021 at his home in Ogden, Utah.  He was 75 years old.  His body gave way to cancer and its many complications, but his heart was still full of life.

Jim was born March 6, 1946 in Preston, Idaho to Syble Wells and Ardith LeRoy Beck.  From an early age, Jim was a seeker of truth. For Jim, nothing was truth, unless he experienced it himself.  His understanding of truth began with his intra-personal quest to seek to know himself. This became a lifelong journey for him.

In 1972, Jim’s pioneering nature led him to found his first company, Solaray, Inc. becoming the first herbal supplement company to market herbs in two-piece easy to swallow capsules. Prior to that time, herbs were chopped and put in paper bags for sale.  He went on to pioneer many advances in the field of nutritional science and created many of the herbal supplements that are sold on the health food market today. Solaray, Inc. became a thriving nutritional supplement manufacturing business that sold its products, including uniquely formulated herbal supplements, to health food stores nationally and internationally. Solaray was built on a standard of quality that became the benchmark for other supplement manufacturers. Jim led Solaray as president until its purchase in 1994 by Nutraceutical. Until a few weeks prior to his death, Jim spent many hours each day continuing his research, finding new uses for herbs for humanity that will be used in new products currently being developed.

Jim was the driving force behind the implementation of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) that saved the supplement industry to be what it is today. The Act was sponsored by Senator Orrin Hatch in 1994. DSHEA has led to a commonsense approach to dietary supplement regulation and in fact is the reason we still have commercial health food stores as well as vitamin and herb manufacturers.

Jim was never a stranger to hard work. As a young man Jim worked with his father maintaining the grounds of Lindquist’s Memorial Gardens of the Wasatch, where he will be buried. In those days he had to dig the grave sites by hand, which required an entire day.

Jim earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1968 from Weber State University, majoring in psychology and minoring in chemistry. Following graduation, Jim was drafted into the army, serving as a Specialist E4, medic/psychologist in Vietnam from September 11, 1968, until April 13, 1970.  Although he had opposed the war, he decided to fulfil his commitment because he felt that as a medic/psychologist he could best serve humanity by addressing mental health issues in fellow soldiers instead of engaging in violence.

For his entire life Jim taught and mentored others in nutrition and health. He always generously shared his own experiences in researching supplements. Many people among his circle of friends and family owe their good health to him. Jim ‘walked the walk’ with his organic, vegan diet and expressed many times that food is our most important ‘medicine’ for health. He also practiced Pranayama Yoga techniques, sharing his expertise with others as an instructor and writing books.

His children hold onto many dear memories of Saturdays spent throwing the frisbee, swimming, hiking, playing ping-pong, rollerblading, sledding, riding bikes and many other things. Jim dedicated many years of Saturdays to playing with his children. They also built memories on yearly trips backpacking in the Wind River Mountain Range, and other trips to places like California, Hawaii, and Europe.

Jim loved spending time with his family. He leaves behind a wealth of extended family members, good friends, colleagues, and neighbors who will all miss the light he brought to their lives. He was often their source for information regarding health and nutrition, an advisor, advocate, and wonderful man.

The family wishes to give thanks to the many health care professionals who became friends and ‘family’ during his treatment journey as well as Hospice for the loving end of life care he received. The loss of Jim is heartbreaking, but those he left behind will be comforted knowing he is free from suffering. He fought cancer for seven years as an example of dignity and grace. Those closest to him knew him as the bravest man they had ever known. At the end, he took his last breath in his South Ogden home, resting peacefully.

His memory will be kept alive by his three children, Nathanial Beck (Laura), Kasandra Hyde (Brian), and Candace Miles (Brandon) who he raised with his former spouse Dorothy Beck; his sisters, Maxine Palmer, Patricia Henry, and Sally Webb; eleven grandchildren; and nieces and nephews, Alan Palmer-Carter (James), Jessica Seibt (Paul), Lucas Webb, Tammy Webb, Crystal Webb, and Isaac Webb; and his longtime companion and caregiver, Valere McFarland.

Memorial services will be held on Thursday, August 5, 2021, at 2 p.m. at Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Blvd. Friends may visit with family on Thursday from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at the mortuary. Interment, Lindquist’s Memorial Gardens of the Wasatch, 1718 Combe Rd.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating a tree to be planted in James’ memory.

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