On Saturday, December 19, 2020, James Elwood Hallam, of Payson, Utah passed away peacefully at Mountain View Hospital ICU at the age of 80.
James was born on August 28, 1940 in Spanish Fork, Utah to Elwood and Alene Duncan Hallam and was the second of five children. He was a member of the LDS Church. James attended school in Spanish Fork and later went to Provo Tech where he studied diesel mechanics and welding.
He married the love of his life Sherry Lynn Thompson of Payson, Utah on July 3, 1964 in Elko, Nevada. They were blessed with three children – Rusty James, Tommy Joe, and Dalana Lynn, 14 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
James learned at a very young age the true meaning of hard work. Working a day job just to come home, change clothes and go to work on the Hallam’s farm. At the age of 28 he was in a tragic accident that left him with a broke back and a pinched spinal cord, which took years of rehabilitation. James went back to work in the mines with his father-in-law Archie Thompson, this was the start of his life-long mining career. Tramping from one mine to the other, James was taught by some of the best hard rock miners there ever were. His friends and coworkers knew him as “Happy” which was a nickname he received for his unique personality.
In 1983 he founded his own mining company, Boundary Creek Mining and worked until 1990 when he was diagnosed with the first of six types of cancer he would endure. Due to his health conditions, he was then forced to sell his business. He later went to work for Alaska Marine Line and then continued on to work for Rio Tinto in Greens Creek Mine in Juneau, Alaska where he stayed on four plus years after his retirement date. Not only was it a job but a lifestyle for James because of his love for fishing.
He was a man of a thousand stories, most of which was doing selfless acts of kindness. Not only did he have a love for his family and friends, but also a love for his Country. He showed this by always sending money to the Wounded Warriors. He was part of a search and rescue in two different instances in two collapsed mines where all of the miners were recovered alive and was awarded a special recognition award.
He had a passion and love for rocks and spent a lot of his time with his family rock hounding in Utah’s West desert. He was a hard man to know, but those who knew him would tell you he was the best coworker and friend you could ever have.
James is survived by his wife Sherry, his two children, Rusty and Dalana, and his brother and sister Ray and Marsha. As well as several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his beloved son Tommy Joe, his sister Sharon Maestas, sister Maryann Castillo and his parents.
James requested to have no funeral services and to be cremated. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that we honor James in good spirit.
The family is forever grateful for the outpour of love, support, and prayers. A special thank you to all the nurses at Twilight Health and Mountain View Hospital ICU.
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