After a hard fought battle with cancer, our father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend passed away with courage on December 21, 2010.
Jim was born March 24, 1949 to Cmdr. Nils J. and Mary S. Carlson in Corpus Christi, Texas. Jim later moved to Salt Lake City with his family and graduated from Hillcrest High. He also attended Weber University, where he played basketball.
After a brief stint in the Army, Jim focused his natural ability to sell and became a manager in retail. Although he enjoyed retail sales, he eventually met his long time mentor Harriet Hoopes and found his true calling selling real estate.
He became the top selling agent in the Salt Lake City area and opened his own successful real estate brokerage ERA Carlson. He was the recipient of many major awards such as National Salesman of the year, ERA Top 15 Broker Nationally. Jim was so successful with the ERA franchise that they also rewarded him a Rolls Royce.
Jim always said "If life gives you lemons make lemonade" and boy did he ever! Another favorite saying was "It's a Walk in the Park". While building his real estate career he also managed to buy and build a professional sports team, the Boise Stallions. Jim loved flying the team around the country.
He was always there for those he cared about whether you needed a hand up or a shoulder to cry on, he also practiced many quiet acts of charity too numerous to mention.
Jim loved fishing, hunting, golfing, bowling, camping, going to concerts, following the Utah Jazz, and watching his beloved UTES. The games will not be the same without him and his big UTE flag. Jim recently got to pursue one of his dreams by being a part of a re-fueling flight for the Blue Angels.
Jim was the life of the party at family functions and will truly be missed. He was a terrific grandfather and shared the wonder and joy of life with his grandchildren. Jim loved Notre Dame and all things Irish. He was proud of his heritage and St. Patrick's Day was very special to him.
Thanks go out his sisters Mary (Shelly) and Diane for taking care of him right up to the end and many other friends, too numerous to mention, your acts of support will never be forgotten.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents and is survived by his daughters, Angie (Jay); Nicole; grandchildren, Gerry & Grace; two sisters, Diane (Steven); Mary (Shelly). Attitude is a five letter word IRISH. We love you dad!
Funeral Services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 29, 2010 at Goff Mortuary, 8090 South State Street (100 East). Friends may call from 7:00-9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 28, 2010 and one hour prior to the services.
Interment: Sandy City Cemetery.
Published in the Deseret News on December 26, 2010.
After a hard fought battle with cancer, our father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend passed away with courage on December 21, 2010.
Jim was born March 24, 1949 to Cmdr. Nils J. and Mary S. Carlson in Corpus Christi, Texas. Jim later moved to Salt Lake City with his family and graduated from Hillcrest High. He also attended Weber University, where he played basketball.
After a brief stint in the Army, Jim focused his natural ability to sell and became a manager in retail. Although he enjoyed retail sales, he eventually met his long time mentor Harriet Hoopes and found his true calling selling real estate.
He became the top selling agent in the Salt Lake City area and opened his own successful real estate brokerage ERA Carlson. He was the recipient of many major awards such as National Salesman of the year, ERA Top 15 Broker Nationally. Jim was so successful with the ERA franchise that they also rewarded him a Rolls Royce.
Jim always said "If life gives you lemons make lemonade" and boy did he ever! Another favorite saying was "It's a Walk in the Park". While building his real estate career he also managed to buy and build a professional sports team, the Boise Stallions. Jim loved flying the team around the country.
He was always there for those he cared about whether you needed a hand up or a shoulder to cry on, he also practiced many quiet acts of charity too numerous to mention.
Jim loved fishing, hunting, golfing, bowling, camping, going to concerts, following the Utah Jazz, and watching his beloved UTES. The games will not be the same without him and his big UTE flag. Jim recently got to pursue one of his dreams by being a part of a re-fueling flight for the Blue Angels.
Jim was the life of the party at family functions and will truly be missed. He was a terrific grandfather and shared the wonder and joy of life with his grandchildren. Jim loved Notre Dame and all things Irish. He was proud of his heritage and St. Patrick's Day was very special to him.
Thanks go out his sisters Mary (Shelly) and Diane for taking care of him right up to the end and many other friends, too numerous to mention, your acts of support will never be forgotten.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents and is survived by his daughters, Angie (Jay); Nicole; grandchildren, Gerry & Grace; two sisters, Diane (Steven); Mary (Shelly). Attitude is a five letter word IRISH. We love you dad!
Funeral Services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 29, 2010 at Goff Mortuary, 8090 South State Street (100 East). Friends may call from 7:00-9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 28, 2010 and one hour prior to the services.
Interment: Sandy City Cemetery.
Published in the Deseret News on December 26, 2010.
