Aug. 31, 1944-Nov. 30, 2022
James J. Eardley, 78, passed away Nov. 30, 2022, after a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease. He died peacefully, surrounded by his wife and seven children, including several in-laws and grandchildren. It was a powerful experience as he passed from this life to the next, a special moment that will stay with his family forever. He was a loving and devoted husband, father, and grandpa. There’s never been a grandpa who loved his grandchildren more. He told all 30 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren that he loved them every chance he had.
James, who went by Jim most of his life, was born Aug. 31, 1944, the first son of James Jenkins Soderborg and Jane Callahan Soderborg. His mother and biological father later divorced and his mother remarried Paul P. Eardley who then adopted Jim and his last name was legally changed from Soderborg to Eardley. He always considered Paul to be his “real” father in every sense of the word. At 5 years of age, Jim moved with his parents from Salt Lake City to St. George and lived there most of his life.
On July 11, 1964, Jim married the love of his life Claudia Joy Whitney. He didn’t grow up as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints but gained a testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel during a seminary class in high school and was baptized in 1966. He and Claudia were then sealed in the St. George Temple in 1967 with their first-born child Tracy. They are now the parents of seven children.
He graduated from Dixie High School in 1962 and worked for his father in the propane business for many years. In 1967 he moved with his wife and oldest daughter to Richfield, Utah, so he could start up and run a new Dix-O-Gas plant in the area. In 1971 they moved back to St. George to help manage the Dix-O-Gas plant there. He was instrumental in helping the family expand Dix-O-Gas throughout the state and later into Idaho and Nevada.
In 1978, Jim was called to be a counselor in a bishopric in a Dixie College student ward. Two years later, he was called to be a bishop in a student ward and six months later, a stake president for the Dixie College student stake.
In 1987, he and his brother sold Dix-O-Gas. Jim was released as Stake President about a month later. That same year, he bought a travel agency, calling it Eardley Travel. While owning the travel agency, he was able to travel to places like Hawaii, Chile, Paraguay, Mexico, England, Holland, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, and Japan. In 1988, he ran for the Utah State Senate, representing Southwestern Utah, a race that he did not win.
In 1989, he was called to become the President of the Oregon, Portland mission. One month before leaving on the mission, he became a grandpa for the first time, and he sold the travel agency before leaving on his mission. While in Oregon, Jim invested with his brother Paul in two businesses in Northern Utah.
In 1992, Jim was released as a mission president and he, his wife, and four youngest children came back home to St. George. The very first church calling he had after being released was as a Primary teacher. His other church callings also included: Young Men’s President, Shepherding Couple, Deacons and Teachers Quorum Advisor, Gospel Doctrine teacher, Scout Leader, High Councilman, and Bishopric Counselor of a residential ward.
In 1995, Jim was elected to the St. George City Council. He served two years there, then he was elected as a Washington County Commissioner in 1998. Also in 1998, he and his wife built a second home in Enterprise, where they had plenty of room for their horses. They kept that home in Enterprise for 19 years. For Jim, life in Enterprise was absolute heaven.
He served as a county commissioner for 16 years and later retired from the county commission in 2015. He then served as a St. George temple ordinance worker with his wife from 2015-2018.
Jim served in many positions, boards and committees which included: The St. George Planning Commission, the Dixie College Alumni Association, the St. George Exchange Club, the Utah Peace Officers Standards and Training Council, UCIP (Utah Counties Indemnity Pool) Board of Trustees, the Board of Southwest Utah Public Health Department, Five County Association of Government, Dixie Metropolitan Planning Organization, Joint Highway Committee and Washington County Conservancy Board.
He also served as Vice-Chairman of the Utah Trust Land Board of Trustees, served as President of St. George Chamber of Commerce, served as Chairman of the Council of Governments, Chairman of DTEC (Transportation Executive Committee), initiator of Vision Dixie, President of USACCC (Utah State Association of Counties, Councils, and Commissions) and President of UPGA (United Propane Gas Association).
Awards that Jim received included: Community Mental Health Achievement Award, Utah Total Citizen Award for appreciation for extraordinary service, UCIP (Utah Counties Indemnity Pool) Board service award, Five County Associations of Governments service award, Washington County Sheriff’s award for appreciation for 16 years of service to the community, Southwest Behavioral Health Center award of appreciation for service, Outstanding County Commission Award, Dixie State College award for outstanding service as a distinguished citizen and generous friend of Dixie State College and President’s Volunteer Service Award.
He is survived by his wife Claudia; their children Tracy (Ken) Shurtz, St. George; Shannon (Todd) Hougaard, Cove; Brian (Leisha), St. George; Kyle (Sunee), St. George; Aaron (Amanda), St. George; Jennifer (Steve) Martin, St. George; Kandice (Scott) Geddes, St. George; 30 loving grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, whom he treasured; his brother Paul (Karen), Texas; his sister Susan, St. George; and a wonderful extended family and many true friends. His ancestors including his father Paul and mother Jane preceded him in death.
Jim led a full life and is loved and cherished by many. He touched countless lives through his service and example. He loved to ride his horses and fly his plane but God and family were always the most important aspects of his life. He worked tirelessly to do what was right, an example that has been ingrained within the hearts of all who knew him. His mortal journey may end here, but it’s just one chapter of his eternal story.
Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 10, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Washington Fields Chapel, 1867 South Washington Fields Road, Washington, Utah.
A viewing will be held Friday, Dec. 9, from 6-8 p.m. at Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 S. Bluff St., St. George. A second viewing will take place on Saturday from 10-11 a.m., prior to services, also at the Washington Fields Chapel.
Our family wishes to sincerely thank all the staff at the Primrose Retirement Center and the Canyon Hospice workers for their endless service in helping make Jim’s final days more comfortable.
Arrangements are under the direction of Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 S Bluff St., St. George, 435-673-2454. Family and friends are invited to sign James’ online guest book.