James Lynn Hampshire

Our husband, father and grandfather passed away peacefully surrounded by family in the early hours of November 9th, 2024 due to the effects of vascular dementia. Jim was born in San Francisco, California on July 19, 1943 to Vera Grace Haslam and Francis Dehlin Hampshire. His parents moved to Salt Lake City a few years later and he grew up in the Highland Park and Sugarhouse neighborhoods. He was very active in the Boy Scouts and earned his Eagle Scout at the age of 13. He loved his time in the Stratford Ward, and when that church building burned down, he was very proud to be part of the rebuilding effort. Jim attended Highland High School from the 8th to 12th grades and appreciated all his outstanding teachers and remembered them with great fondness. At 19, Jim served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in South Australia from November 1962 to January 1965, where his mission president was Bruce R. McConkie. He often spoke of his mission and mission president and noted how it transformed his quiet and shy personality to being more outgoing.  

Jim received an Electrical Engineering degree from the University of Utah. After graduation, he moved to Los Angeles and worked for McDonnell Douglas Astronautics where he worked on the Manned Orbiting Laboratory project. Later he worked at Douglas Aircraft on the DC10. He was proud to be onsite when the plane first took off. After this employment, he returned to Salt Lake City and received a master’s degree in Electrical Engineering. 

Toward the end of earning his master’s degree, he met two twins - Carolyn and Marilyn Brown. After dating Carolyn for a brief time (he thought Carolyn was better looking) and realizing that it was not a “go”, he set his sights on her younger (by 8 minutes) sister. They had an instant relationship and he felt that he had known her for years. Jim was worried about their 7-year age difference, so he wouldn’t disclose his age to Marilyn or her parents for awhile. They rapidly resolved this issue and became engaged on Christmas in 1971, when he presented Marilyn with an engagement ring in a lump of coal. They were married in June 1972 and were happily married for 52 years. 

Jim and Marilyn have lived in the Canyon Rim neighborhood for 51 years. Their starter home became their forever home and they raised their six children there. Jim loved living in the Canyon Rim neighborhood and all the friendships developed there.  

Jim’s work ethic and integrity served him well throughout his life. From adolescence he always had a job and learned many skills - from working in Dan’s Foods produce department to servicing heavy machinery at JK Wheeler’s ranch near the Great Salt Lake, to working at Utah Power and Light while a student at the U of U inspecting power poles, to working at the Salt Lake City School Board in the audio visual department. But his main employment was working in the telecommunications industry for many years - at Mountain Bell, US West, Electric Light Wave and Integra Telecom.  

Jim has always had a strong testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He has always loved the practical side of the church. He loved serving in many callings including Sunday

School teacher, Teacher’s quorum advisor, Young Men’s President (twice), Elders Quorum President, High Priest Group Leader, Bishop’s Executive Secretary, Bishop’s Counselor, Stake High Councilor, Salt Lake Temple Ordinance worker, Stake Audio Visual Specialist and Home Teacher. He also fulfilled a service calling working at the Church Employment Center in Sugar House. Jim and Marilyn served a senior couple mission in the South Africa Durban mission from September 2017 to March 2019 where they worked in the mission office and served under another wonderful mission president, Kip Thompson.  

Jim had exceptional mechanical abilities. He could fix almost anything and donated countless hours helping family, friends and neighbors with many problems and projects. He loved helping people with anything. He owned a small company, Fidelity Systems, where he worked on many audio-visual projects, including custom-installed car stereos, building custom speakers, and home theater systems. He was a talented wood worker and built furniture along with his speakers. His kids were always proud to bring their friends over to watch laser disc movies on the best home theater in town! 

Jim loved spending time with his family and being outdoors. He often begrudgingly went on adventures with his wife and always ended up having a wonderful time. They cruised and traveled from the Antarctic to the Baltic and everywhere in between. He loved vacationing in the Greater Yellowstone Area, boating with his family and friends, and serving others. He always had time for his children and grandchildren. He was a man that lived with honor, integrity and understood the importance of duty. He was a wonderful example to all who knew him. 

Jim is survived by his wife Marilyn, six children David (Rebecca), Allison Payne (Gene), Susan Sims (David), Steven (Lisa), Marianne Spencer (Joshua), Scott (Cyndi) and 20 grandchildren. Preceded in death by his brother John Robert Hampshire. His family is grateful for the loving and devoted care he received during the last 5 months at Spring Gardens Holladay and from the hospice nurses of Inspiration Hospice.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, November 21, 2024 at the Canyon Rim 1st Ward, 3100 East 3020 South, Millcreek, Utah, at 11:00 a.m. with viewing from 10:00 to 10:45. Viewing also on Wednesday, November 20, 2024 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Larkin Sunset Lawn Mortuary, 2350 East 1300 South, Salt Lake City, Utah. Interment at Larkin Sunset Lawn.

Perform an act of service, visit a lonely neighbor, go talk with someone in a Memory Care Center, help a neighbor, rake some leaves, smile at a stranger and say hello, or take in someone’s garbage cans. Be kind to others. Jim would love that.