James Clissold

Jim was born September 16, 1963 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Cal and Majel Clissold.  He grew up on Elmwood Street with brothers Bryson and Drew, and sister Sydney.  Jim was a very busy guy growing up.  He loved riding his bicycle that had the banana seat, swimming with friends and family every summer (he was very popular come summertime), playing with his buddies.  Due to his allergies, he didn't get to have a dog or cat for a pet.  Instead he had many generations of gerbils and a duck named Yacky that would follow him around the neighborhood like a puppy.  Together, he and dad built Yacky an insulated duck house.  He loved spending time and working with Dad.

As he grew up, his interests turned to many different activities.  He loved to go dirt bike riding with the guys.  That's how he lost his two front teeth when he crashed on the handle bars.  He was so good at tying flies.  He would set up his supplies in his tent and tie flies when he would go camping with Steve and Sydney.  Jim became involved in the mountain man activities and enjoyed going to the rendezvous and black powder turkey shoots.  Man, would he stink of black gun powder when he came home from the shoots.

Jim is one of the rare individuals who can take something apart, spread all the parts throughout the garage, and put it back together again and not have one screw out of place.  He loved working on and building cars, sometimes driving them for a while, or sometimes to sell to buy the next one.  He and Dad would spend many hours together on their various car projects.  Jim also spent time working with Dad at Gulfstream Boats.

At the age of 19, Jim built and raced his first Bronco, “Bad to the Bone”!  His love of building and racing never ended.  He became a huge fan of Nascar and hated to miss any race.

(Go Jimmy Johnson!) He spent many years restoring cars. He could see the glory in junk and brought it to life!

After his graduation from Olympus High School, Jim went to work with his cousins Lane and Steve Clissold at Alpine Body Shop.  It was while he was working there that he met and married Tricia Milgate in Herriman, Utah.  They were later divorced.  They moved into a trailer in Rose Canyon and enjoyed the beginnings of having their horses, goats, dogs, and cats.  Jim built their beautiful log home and upon completion Jim and Trish started their family.  Amanda was the first child and Colton came 2 years later.  They loved the rural life.  Jim loved riding his horse, Crystal, up Yellow Fork with his friends.  Of course, he had many car projects while living in the canyon.  As always, Jim made many lasting friendships with people in the canyon.

In 2007, the family moved to Beaver, Utah.  It wasn't St. George like he had hoped, but they were getting closer to southern Utah.  Here the family went elk hunting, four-wheeling.  They had many special friends and neighbors.

Upon his divorce from Trish, Jim finally got to make the move even closer to St. George by moving to Hurricane, Utah.   While getting used to the single life, he enjoyed spending time going boating, working, learning to cook, guiding his children as they started leaving the nest. Jim learned to make one fine cheese cake and brownies.

Finally, Jim made the move to St. George.  His dream of working for Questar in southern Utah finally came true.  His buddy and good friend, Scott Houghton, shares Jim's working career with Mountain Fuel (Questar).

Jim began his career at Mountain Fuel (Questar) in 1990 as a Helper in the Garage.  From there he progressed to Utility worker, Sr. Utility worker and so on.  His duties went from simple vehicle maintenance to larger repairs.

Jim had a great talent for production style work flow, meaning he could see a task and help develop a method for getting the desired results in the most efficient way possible.  Whenever we had a need to mass produce, or install equipment Jim was the man.  This ability led to specific jobs, like our Two Way Radio swaps in our vehicles.  When new and updated radio equipment needed to be installed Jim loved to be involved because in was very much in his wheelhouse AND because he got to travel throughout the entire company and meet everyone.  And I mean everyone!

Jim was instrumental in our large scale CNG vehicle conversion program.  He assisted in vehicle kit conversions as well as compressor installations and repairs.  Jim also worked in the company body shop repairing vehicles and streamlining new vehicle prep procedures again utilizing his talent for processes, AND he got to meet with a variety of vendors and shops, which  meant more friends to get to know and talk to.

In 2007 Jim transferred from the Garage into Operations and relocated to  Beaver where he did a variety of Technical Service work in and around Beaver, Minersville, Milford and north into Delta and the surrounding area.

Jims worst day at work was when he had to work alone, he loved being around people and had a daily routine in the Beaver area for meeting people, and what I called giving hugs to the town.   While working in Beaver Jim’s talents were used for special projects in southern Utah like swapping out storage cylinders in our CNG compressor stations.   When tank testing requirements involved replacing hundreds of tanks in a relatively short amount of time Jim’s talents were needed.   He also assisted in several large scale projects in the St George area while living in Beaver.

In 2012 Jim moved to the St George area and began working out of the St George office in the Operations Department.  Anytime Jim could be with a crew instead of by himself he jumped at the chance, and everyone in St George new you could count on Jimmy for a fun day at work.

I had the Great pleasure of being Jim’s first supervisor when he began his career with Questar and have been tremendously grateful that I had the chance to not only work with him for 27 years but to be his friend.  We have had many adventures together both during and after work and I can say I truly love Jim as a brother and best friend.   I am a better person because of his love and companionship, and I am going to miss him and his quick smile very much.   Jimmy until we meet again. (Thank you Scott)

In December 2014, Jim and Shelly met and it was the beginning of a sweet and magical love story.  Every aspect of each life blended perfectly into one, from their love of Nissan Z’s,  ATV’s, shooting guns, Jeeps, boating,  to the great outdoors.  They were married on December 12, 2015 in the St George temple, sealed for eternity.  Together they healed each other’s hearts and brought joy to each other’s lives and lived to be together every minute possible.

With the marriage, Jim gained 5 grandchildren.  He was nervous about being a grandpa “so soon” but they all won each other’s hearts and the grandchildren called Jim their “favorite grandpa”.

After only 7 weeks of marriage, was the first “bump”, as Jim would call it.   He was diagnosed with Leukemia (AML) on February 4, 2016.  The doctor's commented that they had never seen anyone fight so hard against this ugly disease.  Shelly was by his side the two months that he was in the hospital.  After returning to St. George in late March and then 4 months of ongoing chemotherapy and hospital stays, the leukemia was in remission.  Shelly was there to love and encourage him throughout his battle.  Jim enjoyed six months of remission where he was able to enjoy the things he loved most - his sweet wife Shelly, Amanda and Colton, his buddies at work whom he thought of as brothers, his new family, travel and four-wheeling with Bryson and Judy.  Every day was a blessing and Jim loved and lived life every day.  Then again, in January of this year, the leukemia raised its ugly head.  Jim was unable to win the battle this time and after a valiant and courageous fight, passed away on March 20, 2017 in St. George, Utah.

Wherever Jim went, he made friends and shared his love of life, smiles and quick wit.  One of his long time friends said, “Meet Jim once and you have a Jim memory”.   Jim’s smile and sense of humor will be forever remembered.

As per his wishes, there will be no funeral. Please join family and friends on Saturday, April 8, 2017, for a Celebration of Jim's Life that will be held at The Academy located at 86 S. Main Street, Third Floor, St. George, from 4:00-8:00 p.m..

Jim, we love you very much and miss you.  This world will never be quite the same without your smile and amazing spirit.  ‘Til we meet again.

Jim.  He was (is) my best friend, prince and is my forever companion. A beloved father and brother, fiercely loyal friend and co-worker, will leave all who knew him with great memories and a space that can never be filled.

If you have time, and are willing, please write a "Jim memory" and forward to me at sassie0@gmail.com or bring to the event. Thank you in advance! Bring smiles and fun memories, that's what Jim was great at and wants to be remembered by.
No flowers please unless landscaping plants for a memorial "Jim garden"!

Thank you to all who have touched our lives.  Shelly