James Lynn Anderson

James Lynn Anderson, 81, passed away peacefully at his home in Bountiful, Utah, on August 16, 2022, after valiantly battling multiple myeloma for nearly four years. He was born in Nephi, Utah, to Wilbert Hartley Anderson and Venna Sorensen Anderson on January 3, 1941.

He was raised in SLC the eldest of seven children. In his youth, he learned the art of fishing which became a lifelong passion.  As a freshman in high school, he met the love of his life, Ema Jorgensen, whom he married in the Salt Lake Temple on Sept. 15, 1961. They moved to Logan, Utah, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Sociology at Utah State University. He went on to earn an MSW from the University of Utah, and started his career in Eugene, Oregon, working with at-risk youth. After ten years, he returned to Salt Lake City to become the director of the Residential Treatment Center at Primary Children’s Hospital. Upon retiring from Primary Children’s, he helped establish and direct the Christmas Box House International. Throughout his career he counseled individuals, families and couples and left an indelible mark on his community. He served as a beloved scoutmaster, teacher, and leader in his church.

He is survived by his wife Ema, his two sons Jim (Kim) and Jeff (Lesa), his six grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren, and five of his six siblings (preceded in death by his brother David).

We will sorely miss his deep listening and wise counsel, his unconditional love and his great example as a tireless humanitarian. He loved his beautiful forest, his many friends and neighbors, and especially his family. His dearest love and deepest concern was for Ema his wife of 60 years.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 27, 2022, at his home ward chapel, 1320 East 1975 South, Bountiful, Utah.  A viewing will be held Friday evening from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Russon Mortuary, 295 North Main, Bountiful, Utah and Saturday morning from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at the church prior to services. Interment- Memorial Lakeview Cemetery.

Services will be streamed live on the Russon Brothers Mortuary Facebook page and on this obituary page.  The live stream will begin about 10-15 minutes prior to the service and will be posted below.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Humanitarian Fund of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or to the Christmas Box House International.