Ira Jay Tree

Ira Jay Tree, 93, passed away on April 23, 2026. He was born in Park City, Utah on July 13, 1932, and lived a life defined by faith, family, and devoted service.

When Ira was just 12 years old, his father was killed in action on September 23, 1944, while serving with the 80th Division during General Patton’s Third Army advance across France after landing on Utah Beach that August. This and other tragic events led to many summers spent working on the Tree family ranch in Kimball Junction. These lessons of hard work became the foundation of a life spent in tireless service to others.

A faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Ira began a mission to the Tahiti Papeete Mission in 1952. He loved the people of Tahiti so deeply that he extended his service to nearly three years. After returning home, he married his high school sweetheart, Janice Arlene Dearden, in the Salt Lake Temple on December 2, 1955. Together, they built a strong and loving family and raised their three children, Peggy, Janet, and Evan, while making homes in Taylorsville, Utah, and Mesa, Arizona, before later returning to Utah.

He built his career in carpet sales and installation, carrying the same steady work ethic into his profession that had shaped him from his youth.

Missionary work remained at the center of Ira’s life as he taught and converted friends of his children, as well as ward and family friends. In 1986, Ira and Janice paused their professional lives to serve as senior missionaries in the Tahiti Papeete Mission. They subsequently served four additional missions: another proselytizing mission in Tahiti, a service mission on the San Tan Indian Reservation in Arizona, a proselytizing mission in Auckland, New Zealand, and a final mission in the Kona, Hawaii Temple. They also served a local service mission at the Provo Missionary Training Center.

Throughout his life, he was known for his steady testimony, quiet strength, and lifelong commitment to serving the Lord and lifting those around him. Ira will also be remembered for his wit, humor, and gift of making a new friend whenever he was out and about. He was a lifelong BYU Cougar and loved sports; he rarely missed a televised football or basketball game.

In his later years, when leaving home to serve a mission was no longer an option, he volunteered in Church indexing work, transcribing handwritten historical documents into digital, searchable records. Over time, he became one of the top 100 Super Index Volunteers in the Church, helping transcribe approximately 1.8 million names.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Janice Arlene Dearden Tree. Siblings, Stella Leimomi Tree Welsh (Stan), Letty Norine Tree Turnbow (Keith) and David Rees Tree (Roberta). He is survived by his children, Peggy Leatham (Lynn), Janet Barton (Keith), and Evan Tree (Karen), along with his 12 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren, extended family, and many friends whose lives were blessed by his example.

Ira J. Tree will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered for his devotion to the gospel of Jesus Christ, his love for his family, and the Christlike service that shaped his life.

A viewing will be held on Friday, May 1, from 6:00-7:30 PM at Larkin Sunset Gardens, 1950 E Dimple Dell Road (10600 S), in Sandy, Utah. A second viewing will take place on Saturday, May 2, from 10:00-10:45 AM at the Pepperwood Ward, 2195 Pepperwood Drive, Sandy, Utah, with the funeral to follow at the same location at 11:00 AM.