James Eugene Russon

This obituary was written in its entirety (except for a few additions) by Jim, himself.

James E Russon DDS MPH left earth for his next stop on August 25, 2025, from complications of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. He was born James Eugene Russon to parents Joseph Eugene Russon and Ila May Maughan on May 17, 1949, in Oakland, California.

Jim’s father Gene was a radio technician and served on an aircraft carrier in World War II. Gene later became a mechanical engineer and entered his life work in the elevator business where he became the most well-known figure in the elevator community in the intermountain area. Many architects depended on him and a great number of the elevator specifications and designs in the buildings built during his productive years were Gene's work. Jim’s mother Ila was a child prodigy and daughter of Russell Lowell Maughan who flew the first “Dawn to Dusk” flight across the United States in 1923. He beat the sun and arrived in San Francisco just before dark after leaving the same morning from the Mitchell Field, NY. Ila graduated college at 19 with a degree in English Literature and a strong emphasis in piano performance. She and Gene graduated from the University together at a time when few women got through college.

Education was important to his parents and was also Jim's most important preoccupation throughout his life. He enjoyed reading the encyclopedia as a child. He attended East High in Salt Lake City, earned a Bachelor's of Medical Biology degree from the University of Utah, a Doctorate of Dental Surgery from UCLA, and a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Utah School of Medicine.

Among other things, Jim spent 5 years learning Latin and wrote his own side-by-side synoptic illustrated gospel (Latin on the left and English on the right) with a supporting marginal vocabulary and a final vocabulary for the gospel at the end. He made original translations in some sections where he thought the Latin syntax was unclear to the modern mind.

Jim was especially interested in physics, from quantum theory to string theory and the vast scale of the universe. That perspective informed his view of life. He made a thorough study of all religious ideas and religions and finished with a sure knowledge that God exists and knew him personally, that through Him we may be redeemed by Christ, that Joseph Smith was a prophet, that the priesthood is real, and eternal marriage and families are possible and within our grasp if we have the faith for it.

According to Jim, his life began on July 9th, 1971, when he met Rebecca Lee Strand, whom he married in the Salt Lake Temple December 15, 1972. She was brilliant, beautiful, graduated with a degree in choral music, and remained the focus of his life until death. She had a heavenly voice. She lit up his life. She loved him, forgave him, and made living worthwhile.

Jim loved science fiction, everything and anything about submarines and tanks, and loved his children and grandchildren with all his heart. He was a dentist, mobile-dentist, father, goat and chicken farmer, husband, bishop, ward clerk, home teacher, organist, violinist, linguist, philosopher and author.

He took being the breadwinner very seriously. After breaking his back in February 1973, he had a job doing phone sales before he could do anything more than make his mouth move. After following advice by doctors to retire at the early age of 53, he experimented with substitute teaching, and finally got back to work by creating a new part-time business: Mobile-Dentistry.Org. He was the only mobile dentist in the intermountain area for 10 years.

Jim loved and forgave others and hoped to be forgiven and accepted to be with Heavenly Father, his parents, and other family. He wasn’t special or spectacular (his family would argue with that), just interesting...at least to his wife. To all you readers, he says: “Goodbye!”

Preceded in death by David A. Russon (brother), and Stanley G. Wilcox (son-in-law). Survived by Rebecca Strand Russon, wife; siblings Brent Russon (Carolyn), Karen Chipman (John), and sister-in-law Sherry Russon; children J. Erik Russon, Heidi Russon Hicks (Brian), Juliana Russon Wilcox, and Laura Russon Hansen (David), and grandchildren Alexander, Lucas, Zachary, Ila, Audry, Clyde, and Henrik.

Funeral services will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 6, 2025, at the Bountiful Meadowbrook Ward, 990 North 100 West, Bountiful, Utah. An evening visitation will take place from 6:00-8:00 p.m. on Friday, September 5, 2025, at Russon Mortuary, 295 N. Main Street in Bountiful. A morning visitation will be held from 10:45-11:45 a.m. Saturday at the church prior to services.

Services will be streamed live on the Russon Mortuary Live Facebook page and on this obituary page. The live stream will begin 10-15 minutes prior to services and will be posted below.