James Gray Luter

Dr. James Gray Luter Jr, 89 loving son, husband, father and grandfather passed peacefully into his next stage of life on October 4,2021

Jim was born June 1,1932 in Saginaw MI, to Mary Ellen Keyes and James Gray Luter, Sr. After living in several states, he ended up in Southern California and graduated from Torrance High in Torrance, California in 1948. He then joined the National Guard out of El Camino, California. He was activated for the Korean War where he served with the army repairing and teaching how to repair radios in Korea. When he came home, he attended UCLA in Southern California where he received his bachelors and Masters in Speech Pathology. He then transferred to USC where he received his doctorate.

In 1964 he met his sweetheart Anna Ruth Edling, of Salt Lake City, Utah. In April of 1965, they were sealed for time and all eternity in the Los Angeles Temple. They attended the Wilshire Ward where they met their lifelong friends. They then settled in Granada Hills, California where they continued those relationships. In March 1968 they had John Garrett and in July 1976 they adopted Mary Ellen. Jim worked and headed the speech department of Los Angeles City College for several years and made great friends and colleagues where he retired at the age of 73. When he retired in 2003, he and his sweetheart moved to West Jordan, Utah, where their children then followed and found their eternal companions.

Jim joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when he was 26 and never looked back. He served in several callings, and he and his wife served as missionaries in the employment service program twice. He then worked in the Jordan River Temple for about nine years. He loved to serve and to teach and was a great listener. For the last 10 years of his life, he has participated in, taught and was involved in the organization of Story Crossroads where he was a professional storyteller which he loved dearly.

Jim is survived by his wife Ruth Edling Luter; his daughter Mary Ellen (Michael) Watterson;  and his granddaughter Scarlett James (after her Grandpa  Luter); daughter in law Keri; and her sons Jacob and Kaden; and several nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his mother and father and son John Garrett.

Funeral Services will be held Saturday, October 9, 2021, 12:00 noon at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1945 West 9000 South, West Jordan, Utah. Viewings will be held Friday, October 8^th, 6-8:00 p.m. at McDougal Funeral Home, 4330 South Redwood Road, and prior to services at the church from 11-11:30 a.m.  Interment, Utah Veterans Memorial Park, Wednesday, October 13^th at 1:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, please give to Utah Honor Flight

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