James Charles Callison Sr. Obituary (1925

James C. Callison, Sr., age 91, passed away on February 8, 2017 at his home in Cedar City, Utah. He was born in Bisbee, Arizona on June 6, 1925. Jim grew up on a ranch on the Arizona-Mexico border and spent his childhood herding cows, hauling hay, and training horses. At age 15, he worked as a bulldozer operator on the construction of Highway 90 in southern Arizona. He was a talented musician and played the violin in the Bisbee High School orchestra while still in elementary school. He later played in community orchestras. During World War II, he was drafted into the army before the beginning of his senior year in high school. He was the sergeant in charge of the motor pool at Bushnell Hospital in Brigham City, Utah for the duration of the war and received commendations for good work. After the war, Jim relocated to Provo, Utah where he became a long haul truck driver for Norton Fruit Company. During that time he took flying lessons and earned a private pilots license. Flying was one of the great pleasures of his life. About the same time, Jim became curious about the LDS Church, took the missionary lessons, and was baptized. Once he gained a testimony of the restored gospel, Jim never wavered, and was a faithful member of the LDS Church for the rest of his life. In 1947, Jim met a young lady, Frankie Roper, from northern California. They fell in love, were married on July 13, 1949, and enjoyed 67 years of marriage together. They raised a family of 13 children. His posterity was his proudest accomplishment. For most of his adult life, Jim worked in heavy duty construction or truck driving. He worked in copper mines, worked on Glen Canyon Dam, helped build I-15 in southern Utah, paved runways at Area 51 in Nevada, worked for Western Rock in Cedar City, and drove for Ken Bettridge Distributing. He knew how to run cranes, bulldozers, hot mix plants, airplanes, welders, and road graders. If a machine had pistons and wheels, Jim could operate it with skill. Once, when no shop was available, he overhauled a large diesel engine on the side of a snowy road with good results. He was also an avid woodworker. In addition to his construction work, Jim was well read and enjoyed music. He had a large personal library and played the violin for pleasure for many years. From 1995 to 1997, Jim and Frankie served a mission at the Family History portion of the Joseph Smith Building in Salt Lake City. For two wonderful years, he left behind the dust, mud, grease, and snow of construction work and enjoyed genealogical research and gospel discussions. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Onslow and Francis Callison, brothers Tom Callison and Jack Callison, sister Anne Beasley, daughter DeAnn Callison, and son Gary Callison. He is survived by his wife, Frankie Callison, a brother, Roy Callison, sons Darrell Callison, Jim Callison, Jr., David Callison, Matthew Callison, Karl Callison, and Kyle Callison, daughters Gail Crawford, Judy White, Debbie Lee Barton, Merilyn Fly, and Debbie Lynn Cotts. He is also survived by 47 grandchildren and 56 great-grandchildren. At the time of his passing, he had 116 descendants. The funeral service will be held on Saturday, February 18 at 11:00 a.m. at the Cedar City 14th Ward chapel at 500 West 400 North in Cedar City, Utah. Viewings will be held on Friday evening at the church from 6 to 8 p.m. and Saturday at 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Burial will be at the Cedar City Cemetery. Online condolences can be sent to www.affordablefuneralservices.com Interment under the direction of Affordable Funeral Services (435-586-3456). First Visitation Friday, February 17th, 2017 6:00pm - 8:00pm, Cedar City 14th Ward 500 West 400 North Cedar City, Utah 84721 Saturday, February 18th, 2017 9:30am - 10:30am, Cedar City 14th Ward 500 West 400 North Cedar City, Utah 84721 Saturday, February 18th, 2017, Cedar City 14th Ward 500 West 400 North Cedar City, Utah 84721 Bishop David McGuire Cedar City 14th ward Cedar City Cemetery 685 N. Main Cedar City, Utah 84721