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Menzies James Macfarlane - 5/14/1983

Class of 1939

James Macfarlane was born July 7, 1921 to John Menzies and Nora Parker Macfarlane in South Hooper, Davis County, Utah. He is the first son and second child of Mom and Dad. Jim was born at home as were most children in those days. He arrived before the doctor did. It was fortunate that a nurse was there because when he was born he had the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck twice. Quick action by the nurse saved him. The family moved to Pleasant Grove in 1925 to a fruit farm in the northeast section of Pleasant Grove. Jim, Geri, and Max had a good time on the farm climbing trees, the barn and any other thing that challenged their young active minds and bodies. Soon Grandfather Macfarlane, who believed in the work ethic, had given each of them a hoe with which to keep the garden free of weeds. They all learned how to work at an early age. Jim was the quickest with the hoe as well as in the games they played. Geri and Max found it hard to keep up with him. He maintained this quickness throughout his life in all he did. He was the fastest cherry or apple picker. He could fill two or three boxes while I picked one. In high school, he was member of the Future Farmers of America. The dairy judging team of which he was a member took first place in state competition the year he was a junior. He won a registered Guernsey calf for his efforts on this team. Jim attended the Pleasant Grove schools. His elementary school days were at the Central Elementary, the only elementary school at Pleasant Grove at that time. Junior High and High School were at the old Pleasant Grove High. Jim was interested in sports. Due to a knee injury in football in his Junior year he missed competing in sports the following year. He became the student athletic manager for his last year of high school. Jim was good in all sports, but softball and baseball were perhaps his best. He was the shortstop in the old Third Ward softball team. He was a good infielder with a strong throwing arm. After he began teaching School in the Jordan District, he played both baseball and softball for Midvale. After high school graduation in 1939 Jim furthered his education at Brigham Young University, then Utah State. He went to Utah State because he could take flying lessons there. He always wanted to be a pilot. The first time he tried, he failed the physical. He was told that in order to be a pilot he had to have some cartilage removed from his nose. He had the necessary operation and wanted to enlist again. By this time the Japanese had attacked Pearl Harbor and Jim was drafted. He passed this physical with flying colors. His first assignment took him to North Dakota where he was trained as a radio man. While there he again applied for pilot training and this time he was accepted. He took his flight training in the eastern half of the United States. He graduated as a Second Lieutenant in 1943. He was assigned to the Salt Lake Airbase to await a crew and a plane. We got to see him occasionally while he was at Salt Lake and were we proud of our big brother an officer and a pilot in the United States Air Corps. Soon he left for England which was the home base of the Eighth Army Air Corps. He flew thirty-five missions over enemy territory. In those days, approximately one third of the personnel who flew bombing missions lived to complete the thirty-five missions. The other two thirds of them went down as casualties. Jim's plane had one engine knocked out on two different occasions. He had bullets whiz past his head. Ono time a bullet went between his legs and embedded itself into the framework behind his seat. Throughout all this he was unharmed. He returned to the United States for rest and re-assignment at El Paso, Texas where he was an instructor on the new B-29 bomber. I remember that it was toward the end of the day and we had finished our work and were at our favorite swimming hole taking a swim before we were to do our evening chores. We saw a B-17 very close to the ground and it followed the canal. As it came to our house it started climbing again. Dick Deveraux said, "I wonder if that's Jim." I thought to myself it couldn't be Jim because he is in El Paso. About an hour and a half later we received a call from Ogden informing us that he was at Hill Air Force Base and had volunteered for temporary duty to fly a B-17 to Hill Air Force Base. After the war, Jim returned to Brigham Young University and graduated with a degree in Physical Education. He began teaching and coaching at Union Junior High. He married Marilyn Petty in the Salt Lake Temple on August 16, 1949. They established their first home in Midvale which town Jim had come to love. Jim and Marilyn had five children: Sherrie Lynn born in 1952; Geri Ann, '54; John Petty, '58; Janene, '62; and Jeff, '70. Jim has been a good family man. He guided his family with love. Sherrie, Jim's oldest daughter said that he rarely said a harsh word. He was always loving and kind. As Jim's family grew, so did Jim's responsibilities. He was active in his education association. He served as president of the Jordan Education Association and later as president of the Utah Education Association. He then served on the Safety Committee of the National Education Association. Professionally he advanced from teacher to principal. He then went to the district office of the Jordan School District. He worked there in various capacities his latest assignment as coordinator of student services. He was active in community service. He served his local Kiwanis Club for many years. Jim, like most Macfarlanes, was a staunch Democrat. He labeled himself a conservative Democrat. He was active politically. He served in the Utah Legislature for 15 years. He was elected to the House of Representatives four times and to the State Senate twice. At the time of his death he was the Representative from District 40. Jim's grandchildren were a source of delight. He loves them all. Sherrie mentioned that Saturday afternoon just a few hours before Jim died, she called home and told him they would drop by. He asked if they were bringing the children. "Yee" Sherrie replied. “Then you're welcome to come." he said. Most important, Jim was an active Latter-day Saint. He was my Elder's Quorum resident while I was making final preparations for my mission. He served in many callings in Midvale: Sunday School Teacher, President of the Stake Sunday School, High counselor, Home Teacher, and many others. He was High Priest Croup Leader and a Temple Worker at the Jordan Temple at the time of his death. Last evening as I stood in the mortuary I heard many tributes to Jim: "He taught me to play basketball" from a former student. "He was a real professional" from an educator. "He conducted himself in a statesman-like manner" from a fellow legislator.

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