James William Burdess
Feb 17, 1933 – Nov 2, 2014
"Together Again"
James William Burdess, “Bill,” has passed away at the age of 81 after a full and happy life. He was surrounded by beloved family and dear friends when he left this life to join his late wife on their next journey together.
Born Feb. 17, 1933, in Rocksprings, WY, to Agnes and William Burdess, Bill began life surrounded by cousins, friends, and strong family ties. At the age of twelve, Bill’s family moved to Ogden where they soon put down roots building a solid foundation for generations to come.
He attended Ogden schools where he met the love of his life, Hazel Marie Davis. They married in 1951 and had six children, Jaylene (Steve), Abbie, Eber (Raelene), Noey, Will, and Darrin, along with 15 grandchildren and 24 great grandchildren with one more on the way and who knows how many more.
He was a strong and industrious man providing for his family as a machinist and tool maker for Hill Field, Marquardt, and Flame Co, retiring from Western Zirconium in 1998.
With an incredible love for family, he remained close to his siblings and their children, along with extended family, throughout his life. Many vacations took Bill and Hazel across the western United States to visit family and friends. Some of their greatest adventures were in the wilderness areas of Utah and Wyoming enjoying family-reunion style camping trips.
Bill was an accomplished baseball player in his youth, and as an adult his pastimes included golfing at the White Barn, bowling with Hazel on leagues at Rainbow Lanes, and dancing with Hazel and their friends at the Hermitage and then later at the Oaks and the Eagles. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and took pride in teaching his children and grandchildren the sports. With an inventive spirit, he tinkered in the yard and the garage. He built homemade kites for his grandchildren to fly, cut ATV tracks on his land so the kids could ride, converted a bicycle into a snow sled just for the fun of it, and hosted bonfire parties where the kids and grownups sang and played music together. What he had, he shared, with those he loved.
Bill missed Hazel greatly after her death earlier this year. In their 62 years of marriage, they had never missed an anniversary together. Their 63rd wedding anniversary is later this month, and now that they are reunited again their tradition of never missing an anniversary together still stands.
Bill is preceded in death by his parents and a sister, La Donna (Joe Ophiekens), as well as a son-in-law, Henry Endow and a great granddaughter, Tylee. He is survived by two brothers, Blair (Colleen) and Wayne.
Bill is loved and will be missed by many.
Family and friends are encouraged to attend a viewing Thursday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. and Friday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Blvd. Funeral services will be held Friday morning at 11 a.m. at the mortuary.
Interment, Lindquist’s Washington Heights Memorial Park, 4500 Washington Blvd.
