Jim Verdale Fisher

On April 5, 2017, Jim V. Fisher saddled up his beloved horses Buck and Snowdance and rode off into the never ending sunset to a place where fences don't exist. He was born on March 9, 1931 to wonderful parents, Merlin J. Fisher and Effie Mae Wagstaff, he was the eighth child of twelve siblings. Jim became beloved son, brother, father, uncle, husband, grandfather, great-grandfather and a friend too many. He is a descendant of Scottish Immigrants and a Son of the Utah Pioneer Handcart Company. In 1949 Jim graduated from West High School, lettered in football, basketball, baseball and track. On August 17, 1950, he married his high school sweetheart, Dorothy Mae, for all time and eternity in the LDS Manti Temple. Shortly after, Jim was called to serve a mission' for Uncle Sam. This mission took him to Korea with the United States Navy aboard the USS Okanogan APA 220. In 2015, he was awarded a medal of honor for his service from South Korean Government. Jim has a strong belief and testimony of his loving Savior and he exemplified Christ's teachings in all he did. Every day he quietly served the poor, the needy and the sick; being a disciple in action and giving all he could to others so their lives would be happy and better. He lived by the motto: If he saw wrong or injustice, he would try to right it. He cared for everyone and had a giving heart. From 1955 to 1970, Jim was the proud owner and operator of Fisher Electric. He was a Master Electrician and excelled . He enjoyed lighting up many buildings and homes in the Salt Lake Valley. During these years, Jim also worked with the Salt Lake City Fire Fighters, whom he admired and respected. In 1965, seeing and experiencing mistreatment in his workplace, he organized his fellow Fire Fighters into their first union, the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 1645 and served as their President. Jim continued to organize the Professional Fire Fighters throughout State of Utah. He formed the Professional Fire Fighters of Utah and also served as its first president. With this success, Jim was sought after to become the National Labor Representative for the International Association of Fire Fighters- AFL-CIO. He continued in this role for 15 years, organizing and negotiating contracts for Fire Fighters nationwide. He was an advocate for Professional Fire Fighters in countless hearings throughout the West, insisting on fair treatment, good wages, integrity and safety in contract negotiations and grievance disputes. On April 22, 2016, he was recognized and awarded the "Frontline Leadership" for exceptional leadership and selfless service on behalf of the Salt Lake City Firefighters IAFF Local 1645 , and the Professional Fire Fighters of Utah. This award was given to Jim for serving as a founding member and the first President of IAFF Local 1645 representative, and for exceeding the standards in advancing the primary missions and the organized labor movement in the United States of America; often at his own expense. He was humbled by this award from his fellow Fire Fighters. In 1985, Jim created his successful labor consulting firm in Nevada, American Labor Management Association, which assisted both labor and management in dispute issues. In 1990, he became an arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association and the Chief Arbitrator Judge with the Nevada Arbitration Association with over 300 arbitrators. Jim and Dorothy loved life. They especially loved spending time at their ranch in Heber City with his family and many horses. He was a cowboy through and through. Jim loved to ride horses and would spend all day riding in the mountains above Heber, especially by way of Pole Canyon through the Head of Lake Creek National Forest and beyond. Jim would ride with his daughter and grandkids and teaching them his cowboy songs, and often challenging them to see if they could out ride him. We never could. Happy Trails to this cowboy. The only thing that even came close to his love for long horseback rides and attending yard sales with his family, was his love for Disneyland. Jim visited the Happiest Place on Earth' continually since its opening in 1955. Taking his family, friends, and anyone who wanted to go with him, as he would visit The Happy Place several times a year. He was looking forward to his next trip to Disneyland on May 5th. In 2002 his beloved wife Dorothy, of 52 years, passed away. In 2006, Jim married Sheri Sutton, who passed away in 2012. As time went on, Jim would often recall a program he saw in his elementary school, featuring an angel dressed in white who sang the most beautiful rendition of Ave Maria'. He decided to seek her out and found her living in San Diego. In 2016 he renewed a loving friendship with Angelina Italasano. After 71 years, he had found his Ave Maria Angel'. Jim and Angie got together in Disneyland, where he proposed, and they were happily married on June 1, 2016. Jim was very blessed to have been married to such wonderful women. Jim is survived by his loving wife, Angie; his daughter, Carolyn Mae Fisher (James Medina); 4 grandchildren: Jennifer Mae Fink (Keith Mower), Leslie Anne Fink (Rebecca Fox), Kristin Lacy Fink (Jason Schill), and David Steven Fink. In addition he has 7 great-grandsons; and 1 great-granddaughter. Jim is also survived by his younger brother Walt Fisher. Funeral services will be held Monday, April 10, 2017, 11:00 a.m. at the Cottonwood 1st Ward, 5913 South Highland Drive, Salt Lake City, Utah, where a viewing will be held prior to services from 9:00-10:45 a.m. Services under the direction of McDougal Funeral Home. Interment, Charleston Cemetery, Charleston/Heber City, Utah. Place of Birth:Salt Lake City, UtahPlace of Death:Holladay, Utah