James Junior Birrell died at home on April 25, 1999, of causes incident to age.

He was born October 17, 1925, in Salt Lake City, UT, to James Alexander and Nelma Elizabeth Holmes Birrell. He married Carol May Platt on December 4, 1951, in Salt Lake City. They were blessed with five wonderful children that Jim loved dearly and was so very proud of.Jim had a deep love of scouting and was so proud when his son, Jimmy, was made an Eagle scout. He was in the U.S. Navy during World War II and Korea and was medically retired in 1951. For the past eight years he was a regular at the Sandy Senior Citizen Center, and his strongest wish was to be able to get out of bed and go to the Center to see his friends. He loved all of them so much. Jim was a quiet, gentle man who had a heart bigger than his whole body. Everyone who met him loved him.

He is survived by his five children, Robbie (Tom) Sessions, Kearns; Jim (Kris) Birrell, American Fork; Kathy (Ron) Hewitt, Sandy; Cindy (Mike) Bates, West Jordan; and Julie Kuefner, Bluffdale. He is also survived by 16 beloved grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. He loved each one of them the best. He is also survived by seven brothers, Robert (LaRee), Joe (Judy), Don (Pat), Lynn (Sharee), Phillip (Ila), David and Larry; and by four sisters, twin Jean (Bill) Yeiter, Dorothy (George) Barrett, Phyllis (Val) Stay and Evelyn Lewis, and numerous nephews and nieces. Preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and two sisters, and two granddaughters, Emily and Sherilyn Winegar.

The family would like to thank IHC Hospice nurses, Sue Ann, Camille, Anne, Debbie and aide Sherlene, who made his last few months much easier. Grandma would like to also give a very special thanks to Ron and Mason. I could not have done it without you.

Funeral services Friday, April 30, 1999, at 11 a.m. at Goff Mortuary, 8090 So. State, where friends may call Thursday 6-8 p.m. and Friday one hour prior to services. Interment, Bluffdale City Cemetery.

published in Salt Lake Tribune and Deseret News - April 27, 1999