James "Jimmy" C Blevins

James C “Jimmy” Blevins of South Ogden Utah went to be with Jesus on Sunday, February 11, 2018 after a short but severe illness. Per Luke 15:17 there is rejoicing in heaven. He was born on April 25, 1934 to Cal & Grace Parsons Blevins in the county of Pike and town of Virgie, Kentucky.

He married Joan Henderson on 8-5-1989 and was previously married to Frances Wartman, divorced; Coleen Petersen, divorced; Bernadette Kolb, deceased.

He worked at the Crown Cork and Seal Company as a Weigher II in Baltimore, MD from April of 1952 to July of 1953 when he joined the Navy.

He served in the US Navy from July 10, 1953 to May 28, 1957 aboard the U.S.S. Albany (CA-123). He enlisted as SR on 10 Jul 53, advanced to SA 5 on Oct 53, to FN on 16 Jul 54, then to BT3 on 16 Jul 55 and BT2 on16 Apr 56. Prior to his honorable discharge in 1956, he served as Boilerman Second Class, although he completed the training for Boilerman First Class prior to his discharge. He served Sea/European duty for 3 years, 6 months & 12 days along with his best and long-time (still) friend, Peter D'Amico, currently of Westport, CT.

After he came to Utah, he worked for the US Postal Department for a short time and then as a Civil Service employee at Hill AFB where he worked on the radar in the nose cones of aircraft. Other than his wife, Joan, his great love was music, Country in particular. Just prior to the onset of illness he was playing lead guitar and lap steel at the Washington Terrace Senior Center. Prior to that he played in several bands in the area: KSOP Wranglers, 3 Aces & a Joker, the Smith Brothers and Flashback.

In addition to the lead guitar and lap steel, Jimmy was also very accomplished on the peddle steel guitar, banjo, mandolin, dobro, bass guitar, acoustic guitar and even the fiddle. Although music was his main (or sole) purpose in life, he had several other interests: optometry, barometric pressure (he made his own barometer), astronomy (he kept track of the sun and the moon and could tell you when Easter would be and why), and electronics. He was a whiz at connecting several pieces of electronic recording/playing equipment to the TV and computer. Though he had been legally blind since 1997, he managed amazingly well with a variety of hand-held magnifiers for reading, TV and computer work. Also, a key word from anyone would trigger a joke.  His mind was borderline genius.  To sum it all up: To know him was to love him. Jimmy was an amazing man, true friend, loving & loyal father & husband, brother, uncle and step-father … just an all-around great guy who will remain sorely missed in this life.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Calvin & Grace Blevins; his sisters, Helen Blevins & Wanda Isner; brother, Joseph Blevins; step-daughter,Bette Blevins; nephew, James Taylor as well as his former wives, Coleen P Wintle and Bernadette Blevins.

He is survived by his wife, Joan; his daughter, Brenda (Dan) Watson; sister, Larissa Webb; brother, Charles Blevins; nieces: Carolyn Blevins, Cindy (Vince) Conway; Debra (Jason) Turnock, Diane Wilfer, Elizabeth (Fred) Reinthaler, Patricia (Jeremiah) Dailey, Sandra Elliott, Stephanie (Charles) Weigand; and nephews, Karl (Barbara) Moeller and Stephen (Joyce) Blevins.

 A Celebration of Life will be held Friday, February 23, 2018 at the Washington Terrace Senior Center, 4601 S 300 W, Washington Terrace, Utah (phone 801-621-0161 for directions or questions) from 2:00 until 4:00 pm (dessert provided). Graveside service with military honors will be held Saturday, February 24, 2018 at 2 pm at  Aultorest Memorial Park, 836 36th Street, Ogden UT 84403 (phone 801-394-5556 if directions are needed). Pastor David Martin officiating.

Cremation under the direction of Aaron's Mortuary & Crematory.