James Russell Connett

Jim Connett returned to his heavenly home on December 16, 2015 at the age of 75 after battling throat cancer for over 16 years. Jim was born on April 26, 1940 to Robert and Dorothy Hyden Connett in Denver, Colorado. He was raised in Houston, Texas, the youngest of five children. He graduated from Seville Dependents High School while stationed at Moron Air Base near Seville, Spain, on active duty in the U.S. Air Force. He was an air traffic controller in England and Spain. After the service, Jim worked as an industrial fluids control specialist and continued that profession until retirement, working in sales, purchasing, and management. He married Cheryl Held in 1965. They lived in San Clemente, California. They had one daughter, Gina. They were later divorced. He married Debbie Marston on June 19, 1975 in the Salt Lake Temple and they had four children. Their first home was in Pocatello. Eleven months after they were married, they had Julienne and 11 months after she was born, they had Melanie. In 1977, when Melanie was three weeks old, they moved to Walnut Creek, California. They also lived in Antioch, California. In 1981 they moved to Sandy, Utah where Rebecca and Dean were born. Next they lived in Chandler, Arizona for two years, and then returned to Pocatello April 2, 1988. Jim was a man of great faith and had a strong testimony of Jesus Christ and the importance of His atonement. He loved Heavenly Fathers special gift to our generation, the Book of Mormon, and Jim read and studied it regularly. He was also strong in his commitment to prayer and serving others. He was a convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, joining the church when he was 31. He served in many capacities within the church. He was called as a seventy and served as one of the seven presidents before that became a general authority calling. Other callings included teaching, serving as a scout master, and ward mission leader. He also served on the High Council and was a counselor to five different bishops, three in California and two in Idaho. He enjoyed working in his yard, planting flowers and growing a small garden. He also enjoyed reading, being involved in genealogy, fishing, hiking and being with his family and friends. He was generous and willing to share whatever he could with those who needed a helping hand and he had a great sense of humor. Jim was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Bob, Jack and Richard; and a sister he never met, Mary Ellen. She was born to the family before Jim was born. Before he passed away he said that he was very anxious to meet her and to see his family. He is survived by his wife, Debbie; children, Gina Strickland, Torrance, California, Julienne (Dan) McCaskill, Pocatello, Melanie Connett, Pocatello, Rebecca Carter, Boise, and Dean (Carrie) Connett, Kaysville, UT; nine grandchildren, Mark Connett (currently serving in the Fukuoka, Japan mission), Alexa Pharis, Natalie Carter, Matthew Connett, Braxton Strickland Elin, Claire and Grant Connett, and Sophia Strobel. The family wishes to thank Dr. Kim R. Davis for his years of commitment and for his concern, friendship and love and we thank his wonderful nurse, Jevonne. The family also wishes to extend a warm thank you to Access Home and Hospice for the love and care given during the past few months as well as the amazing members of the Alameda 3 rd Ward. At Jims request, his body has been donated to the University of Utah Medical School. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 23, 2016 at 12:00 p.m. at the LDS Walnut Church Building, 954 E. Walnut, Pocatello, with Bishop Jim McCurdy officiating. Jim also requested NO flowers , "Please consider a contribution to the churchs fast offering fund or missionary fund in my memory and/or do something special with your family."