James "Jim" H. Nelson

James “Jim” Harley Nelson, 77, passed away surrounded by love on September 3, 2025. He was born September 9, 1947, in Las Vegas, Nevada, to James Mark and Shirley (Adams) Nelson. Jim grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he made lifelong friends, participated in choir, worked with his father and brother, teased his sisters, and played as many sports as he could.

After high school, Jim attended Brigham Young University to study biological sciences. At the end of his freshman year, he served a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in England. Throughout his life, he told stories of the people he met and loved while serving and considered his mission to be a great blessing in his life. At its conclusion, Jim returned to BYU to finish his education.

While at college, Jim met a beautiful girl with bright blue, happy eyes, Isabel Ida England, from Kingman, Arizona. They dated off and on for a couple of months before becoming serious, and were married in the St. George temple in 1970. Isabel was the love of Jim’s life. He recently said, “She’s been my guardian angel for more than fifty years. She’s my better half, my soulmate, my person. She brings light and life into my heart. She makes me a better person.”

Jim was a proud and devoted father to six children, four girls and two boys. He was a phenomenal dad, always finding time to be the tea party guest, wrestling partner, sneaky treat-giver, reader of Sunday comics, sports practice partner, and movie-watching companion. He spent countless hours playing board games, coaching his children’s sports teams, and attending band concerts and awards assemblies. He had a way of making each child feel special and loved.

Jim spent the first part of his adult life working in the construction industry with his family; laying concrete, framing, roofing, sheet rocking and doing finish carpentry. But after years of hard work in the elements, he decided to put his science degree to work and became a high school teacher. Jim taught science and math for 31 years at Kingman High School and its PASS program. Through that time, he touched the lives of many students who had “Mr. Nelson” in class or on the basketball court, where he also coached. Jim was exceptionally dedicated to the students that he worked with at the PASS program, believing in them and supporting them in a way that helped them find success and reach graduation.

Jim loved watching BYU sports of all kinds, cherry jubilee ice cream, TV shows with horses, strawberry sundaes from Dairy Queen, all Mexican food (especially cheese enchiladas), western movies, his mom’s lemon pie, and Tabasco sauce on just about everything. But more than anything else, Jim loved of the gospel of Jesus Christ and he unconditionally loved his family.

Jim is survived by his wife of 55 years, Isabel; children, Jennie (Roger), Missy (Paul), Cindi, Heber (Erica), Christy (Whitney), and Spencer; grandchildren Nelson (Riley), Rielly (Dani), Zack, Kale, Taylor, Toby, and Trey; and great-grandchildren, Tatum and Ellie. He is also survived by brothers Doug (Dana) and Will and sisters Teresa (Tom) and Karen (Jerry), as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, James Mark and Shirley (Adams) Nelson.

Jim’s services will be held in Logan, Utah on Friday, September 12, 2025 at 11:00 AM at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, located at 502 East 300 North, Logan, Utah. A viewing for family will be held immediately preceding the services and interment will be at the Logan Cemetery.  

Memories and condolences may be shared and expressed at www.allenmortuaries.com.