April 29, 2022
James Edward Stone, 77, died April 29, 2022, of cardiac failure in St. George.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Colleen Stone, son Ben, daughter-in-law Rebekah and four grandchildren of Longmont, Colorado; daughter Jenn of Cedarpines Park, California; sister Mary Janice Pemble of Stillwater, Minnesota, and three beloved felines. He was preceded in death by his parents Veryl E. and Mary R. Stone, both of Stillwater, Minnesota.
Born in Estherville, Iowa, Jim graduated from Stillwater High School in 1963. He attended Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota (BS-Biology), the University of Wyoming in Laramie (MS-Botany) and Cornell University in Ithaca, New York (PhD-Terrestrial Ecology).
After a brief post-doc appointment at Cornell, he began a nearly 30-year career with the Bureau of Land Management in the U.S. Department of Interior. Over the years he was stationed in the following: Socorro, New Mexico; Montrose, Colorado; Denver, Colorado; Phoenix, Arizona; and Las Vegas, Nevada, along with two tours in Washington D.C.
He retired in 2005 and with his wife moved to Roanoke, Virginia. Twelve years later, they moved to St. George, in part to be closer to their children and grandchildren.
Throughout his life, Jim enjoyed music, singing in many different church choirs along the way. A highlight of later life was early morning walks while listening to a variety of song playlists on an iPod. He took particular joy in researching various issues of the day and in writing. As such, he self-published books on family ancestry and history as well as several booklets filled with humor and political satire. He was also very fond of animals and volunteered for a time at P.A.W.S., a pet rescue and adoption center in St. George. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that any donations be made to P.A.W.S. Animal Shelter.
A memorial service will be held at the Bradshaw Funeral Home in Stillwater, Minnesota, May 10, with private burial in Fairview Cemetery.
Arrangements are under the direction of Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 S Bluff St., St. George, 435-673-2454. Family and friends are invited to sign Jim’s online guest book.