Joseph James Palmer Jr

Joseph James Palmer Jr, fondly known as Jim, passed away peacefully surrounded by family in his home on January 25, 2025 after a year and a half long journey with oropharyngeal cancer.

Jim was born June 3rd, 1959 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Dorothy Ann and Joseph Palmer. He attended the University of Utah, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in History and a master’s degree in Human Resources Economics. He was a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity where he met many life-long friends. Jim remained a steadfast Utes fan, attending almost all Utah Football home games as a Crimson Club Member.

Jim worked in many entrepreneurial endeavours, particularly in cyber-security. His career spanned from banking to tech, including working at Hill Air Force Base, American Express, and the Federal Reserve Bank in San Francisco. He also co-founded two companies, of which he was most proud.

He spent most of his life in the Salt Lake area, and his adult life taking care of the family “Cottonwood” home in Holladay. Jim spent many years serving on the Mountainous Planning Commission and Holladay City Council. His most proud accomplishments in his time serving as councilman were establishing the Knudsen Park, helping the community in saving the Cotton Bottom, and working toward the redevelopment of the Holladay Village Center and Cottonwood Mall. These are only a few of Jim’s services and community achievements.

An avid outdoorsman, Jim loved anything and everything in the Mountain West, particularly skiing, hiking, backpacking, fly fishing and camping. Jim was an Eagle Scout in his youth, and continued to serve as assistant scoutmaster with his son Preston’s Boy Scout Troop 411 for 8 years, where they took to the outdoors together. Jim and his friends took annual ski trips to Alta and Sun Valley with the theme “It’s Good To Be Us!”

As a lifelong Episcopalian, Jim worked tirelessly for the St. James Food Bank, serving as volunteer coordinator. He would personally attend weekly stocking days and bi-weekly distribution, serving hundreds of Utah families. Additionally, he served at St. James as a vestry member spanning a number of years, and as the Treasurer of the Episcopal Diocese of Utah in the final months of his life.

Jim is survived by his mother, Dorothy Ann, his siblings Anne, Wood (Ann) and Davis (Kelli), his children Ashton (Ron), Madi, and Preston and their mother, Terry. He is preceded in death by his father, Joseph.

Funeral services for Jim will be on Sunday, February 2nd at 2 PM at St. James Episocpal Church, 7486 Union Park Ave, Midvale. The funeral service will be followed by a celebration of life from 3:30-5:30 PM at Starks Funeral Parlor, 3651 South 900 East, Salt Lake City. Guests are encouraged to use parking and entrance located on the north side of the building. All are welcome.Those who would want to honor and acknowledge Jim’s community contributions might consider gifts to the Utah Food Bank and Trails Utah.