Cover photo for Richard Laird Jamison's Obituary
Richard Laird Jamison Profile Photo
1940 Richard 2017

Richard Laird Jamison

August 1, 1940 — September 17, 2017

Richard was the son of a career Air Force father, born just two years before the start of WWII, which necessitated many moves in his young lifetime. In 1955, they were stationed in Tachikawa, Japan, and he spent three high school years at an Air Force base school there. In 1959, they returned to the States and to Colorado Springs, Colo., where he met his wife, Linda, who fortuitously moved in across thestreet. They graduated together from Wasson High School in 1960, and were married July 15, 1960, in Manitou Springs, Colo.. They lived for 17 years in Colorado Springs where their four children were born. His first job for a short time after marriage was as an assistant manager of a variety store, then at Sears as manager of the display department for five years, until, after enrolling in the Dale Carnegie program, he realized he couldn't meet his financial goals at Sears. Always the entrepreneur, he bought two backhoes and with his father and brother, began an excavating business, as well as opened an outdoor shop, Mountain Recreation, in Manitou Springs, Colo. In conjunction with the outdoor shop, he taught outdoor living classes and produced a series of outdoor educational slide programs that were used in schools throughout the country. In 1977, he was forced to sell the excavating business due to a building moratorium, and moved his family to Stevensville, Montana and conducted primitive living and outdoor educational courses. In 1980, he was recruited to work as the technical advirsor on the film, Windwalker, which was directed by noted Academy Award winner, Kieth Merril, and thus began his 30-year-long career in the motion picture industry. Richard and his family moved to Utah, in 1980, and he attended Weber College and received a merit scholarship in photography. But he had been bitten by the film bug, and in 1983, he was offered an opportunity to work full-time at the LDS Motion Picture Studio in Provo, Utah, where he learned andworked in various capacities that eventually led to his position over the Art Department at the studio as the production designer. He retired in 2012, following the release of his final film project, Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration, Which continues to be shown at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in Salt Lake City. As an artist, Richard felt privileged to be involved in many films that were created and produce by the LDS Church, and t make the most of his artistic talents to re-create historic events for film to teach and spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world. In fact, he was once recognized by the Sons of the Utah Pioneers for bringing more pioneers into the valley than actually came here. It was especially meaningful to him to work with his daughter, Mindy, who was the head scenic artist on most of his film projects. He was also grateful to be able to work with his brother, Larry, and with other family member on projects, especially since so much time was spent traveling or working away from home, the importance of having members of his family with him was particularly important and comforting.Dick, as most knew him, had many interests and hobbies. He loved photography, the outdoors, camping and exploring (especially in the desert), and hiking and riding his 4-wheeler. He spent many nights sleeping wrapped in a blanket next to a campfire on trips where he taught students the skills of living the primitive lifestyle. He loved baseball and pitched in high school and was also involved in gymnastics until a back flip landed him wrong and ended his participation in both sports. He was an avid fan of the Denver Broncos, as well as the Pittsburgh Pirates, especially when they were playing the U of U or the Eagles. Always cheering from the sidelines, he supported his grandchildren's sports games and attended whenever possible, camera in hand. He was great fly fisherman, a crack-shot with a gun. He seemed to have a natural eagle-eye with any kind of firearm, including a black powder rifle, and hunted both the bow and rifle seasons until he decided it was too crowded in the Utah mountains for him. He was a spelunker and led several expeditions into the depths of caves in Colorado. He also enjoyed riding his motorcycle and golfing. Needles to say, he was adventurous and highly motivated to learn and try new things. By most standards, Dick was a cool daddio. He love 50's music and dancing, classic and custom cars, and belonged to the Cam Winders car club in Colorado Springs. He played the trumpet in high school and took up the guitar later in life. His first car was a '51 Mercury, and he owned and showed several classics and customs over the years. As an avocation and hobby, he was a talented airbrush and pin-striping artist, his final work was striping his 1948 radical custom Chevy, which he rescued in 1990, and enhanced with white walls, air ride, Buick fade-away fenders, and tweaked details of thebody work before it was sold in 2012. No doubt he's cruising in style now.
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