James Langton Macfarlane, passed away peacefully at home on November 28, 2022. Jim was born on May 22, 1931, to Grant Macfarlane and Lucie Gayle Langton Macfarlane. Even as a young child, Jim had a positive, friendly personality which included a fierce love of competition. He and the “Macfarlane boys”, which included Grant, Jim, Richard, and John joined an elite group of “Avenue Boys”. This led to endless games of football, basketball, and baseball on Wolcott Street in front of the Macfarlane home.
Jim made many friends at Longfellow, Bryant Junior High, and East High School. One of Jim’s proudest moments was winning the 1944 Salt Lake Marble Championship and this event was the catalyst to his lifelong motto to “Never Give Up.” Jim played basketball, football, and ran track at East High. However, the best part of those years was meeting and falling in love with Carol Corbett, or CC, as he often called her.
Jim graduated from the University of Utah in 1953. While there, he played on the University basketball team and was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, where he met many of his closest friends.
Jim and Carol were married on June 25, 1953, and this was the beginning of a lifetime love story. Their marriage was solemnized in the Salt Lake Temple on March 16, 1966. Carol and Jim had four children, Steven, Ann, David, and Jane. Jim was a hands-on Dad who taught his children to ride bikes and horses, ski, play sports and laugh. With a strong love for youth, Jim spent hours coaching little league baseball teams and church basketball teams.
Jim went on to work in the printing industry first at Rocky Mountain Bank Note and then starting his own company IC Group in 1982. He served as President of the Bank Stationers of America and made lifelong friends from around the country. He loved the work and the wonderful people he worked with.
Jim volunteered much of his time to his beloved University of Utah serving as the Chair of the Board of Trustees, the Board of ARUP, Red Butte Garden and Pioneer Memorial Theatre to name a few.
He served faithfully in many positions in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. One of his favorite callings was as a Mission President in the Seattle, Washington mission from 1990 -1993.
He was a magnificent father to four children, grandpa to thirteen grandchildren aka “willers” and a great grandpa to twenty great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Carol, his brother John and sister Marilyn.
He is survived by his children Steve (Amy) Macfarlane, Ann (Scott) Jensen, Dave (Tami) Macfarlane, Jane (Des) Barker. We are forever indebted to Misinale Mahe, Bou Havea, Mila Aluesi, Olive Moimoi, Elizabeth Ramsay and Elevation Hospice for taking loving care of our father.
In lieu of flowers please consider donating to the University of Utah For Utah Scholarship. University of Utah Advancement Office PO Box 58006, Salt Lake City, UT. 84158 Attn: Lindsay Nelson.
Funeral services will be held at noon on Monday, December 5 at the Salt Lake Monument Park Stake 1320 South Wasatch Blvd. A visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. prior to the services. For those unable to attend, services will be streamed via Zoom. Please click on the "Watch Services" link above. A free Zoom account is required and you must be signed in to your Zoom account to view.
James was my mission president. One of the best men I knew. He loved us and we loved him. He led the Lord's way; with gentleness, meekness, and love unfeigned. I am sorry for your loss and pray the Lord will comfort your family during this time. I'm sure the reunion with his sweetheart is of comfort to you, she was a special lady as well.
I love Jim Macfarlane. I think I was the first missionary sent out under Jim's supervision as Bishop. Two years later, as a recently returned missionary, I was struggling, both behaviorally and philosophically, in my relationship to the church and sought Bish Macfarlane's advice. In offering his input and perspective, he was wise, compassionate, insightful, pragmatic, and non-judgmental. The words he shared that day gave me the direction I needed to get over that tough time and, in time, regain my belief. Jim, you are a great guy and will missed by many. Thank you for an amazing and admirable life,
I was so sorry to hear of Jim's passing. He was such a kind and friendly man; always found the good in everyone and likewise, everyone loved him. He was the heart and soul of IC Group and his absence will be felt. My warmest condolences to all of the Macfarlane family and hope you find some comfort in knowing he was so loved.
We feel privileged to have spent so many years of our time on earth as friends and neighbors of Jim and Carol. They were fun, inspiring, and helped so many people. My children were teens when he was Bishop and his "rules" were in a frame on the table by the phone. They must have been read hundreds of times and were so helpful to them . He was able to connect with them so well whenever he spoke to groups.
I last saw Jim when I dropped by with some homemade soup and had a long visit with him. Though it must have been a couple of years ago, it seems like yesterday and I will treasure that memory of one on one time with him. I will miss his testimony in Fast Meeting, and watching him move to sit by anyone who came in alone. I can't help but be happy for him to be with Carol again, having successfully endured to the end.
We have been well-loved by Jim for years. He reached out to us continually and his reaching was adept and perfect for our heartaches. We love him and his family.
James Macfarlane was my mission president. I loved the one on one time I had with him in interviews. These interviews were filled with Laughter , Love and respect for each other. He was and is truly a disciple of Jesus Christ. I can only imagine the joy Sister Macfarlane and he had as he past through the vail. My life is better because of him.
In the spring of 2015, I was flying from SLC to Denver for work during one of the most difficult periods of my life. As I approached my seat, I recognized the man seated next to mine as President MacFarlane, whom I had not seen since the conclusion of our full-time missionary service 24 years prior. He told me he’d been praying to find me and that our meeting was no coincidence. Of course, I knew that too.
Please accept my deepest love and condolences, my undying gratitude for his and Sister MacFarlane’s lifelong willingness to be instruments in the Lord’s hands, and my prayers that they may continue to be blessings to their family and lives ones.
I want to send my heart felt condolences and warm thoughts to Presidents family and to the many people whose lives he both served and touched.
I met President and Sis. McFarlane while I served as a Stake Missionary and worked with the full time Missionaries in the Washington, Seattle Mission. President and Sis. McFarlane loved their missionaries, and always led and taught in a very Christ like manner. If he had to correct a missionary (s) he always did so without tearing away their worth or value, and afterwards showing an increase of love. If one of his missionaries did something which might need correcting, he would say he was disappointed, but knew they could do better. I learned a great deal from President McFarlane myself from conversations with him. He was a loving and caring man. He and Sis. McFarlane were great examples of service, missionary work, christ like love. I have a great deal of admiration, respect and love for this man. We have lost a giant, but heaven has gained one. I rejoice in the fact that he and his beloved Carol have been reunited. We'll look forward to seeing them again at some future time.
I had the honor of knowing Jim from my years of serving on the ARUP board with him for 10 years +.
He was unfailingly, and genuinely concerned with making an organization he was with the most best possible What he injected was kind sensibility .
A gracious and thoughtful and intelligent man.
He is loved and admired by many
sue
Please know of my sympathy for all of your family at this time of great sorrow. Jim is one of my all-time favorite people. I enjoyed working closely with him for 15 years; he was like a big brother to me. I am so happy for Carol and Jim being together again.
Jim was a truly great human being. I will miss him. The University of Utah will miss him. Salt Lake City will miss him. Utah will miss him. He made the world a better place.
Dear Macfarlane Family,
I love your Dad so much! He was my Bishop during my teen years. He was there for my marriage and my Dad’s passing. Through it all he had a profound influence on me and my family. I don’t remember the competitive side of his personality, mentioned at the funeral, just his extraordinary kindness and gentleness. We shared a birthday and though it isn’t a big deal, I enjoyed connecting that way. Running into him throughout life was always a treat. I will miss him. May you all enjoy blessings and wonderful memories throughout your life until you are all together again!
President Macfarlane was the extraordinary spiritual leader in Seattle that I needed. I am grateful that his family shared their wonderful parents with me and the missionaries of the Seattle mission. He was an example of the kind of man I wanted to become, and the leader that I hope to emulate. May a portion of the peace you feel come from knowing he was loved by those whom he led and served.
I would like to thank this legendary for everything. I’m forever indebted for all that you have done for me and my family. I will surely miss you.😭😭😭 To my MACFARLANE Ohana I love you all and you will always have a special place in my heart. Mālō he me’a kotoa.
My condolences to the Macfarlane family. I had the honor to serve under President Macfarlane in Seattle. He has been one of the most influential mentors in my life. His love and devotion to the Savior was second to none, one could not leave his presence and not feel the love of the Savior.