James Lee Bishop
James Lee Bishop passed away peacefully at his home in St. George, UT on July 13, 2016. Lee was born May 21, 1926 in Orem, UT to James Delbert and Elvera Watson Bishop. He was the oldest of five boys. He was a leader and an example to his brothers and many other people in all aspects of his life. He loved adventure. He received his pilot license and soloed at the age of 16, at that time becoming the youngest student to receive his wings at the Provo Airport. He was Student Body President at Lincoln High School in 1944 and served in the U.S. Army Air Corps in WWII.
When Lee returned home, he met his sweetheart Noreen Nelson and they were married October 18, 1947. Lee graduated from Utah State University in Vocational Agriculture and received his Masters from the University of Utah. He taught Vocational Agriculture in Orem for seven years and then bought a dairy farm in Bridgeland, UT where he farmed and continued teaching for three more years. In 1962 he moved his family to Overton, NV where he taught English and Aviation Science for eleven more years.
During his time in Overton he was active in civic affairs, serving several years on the Town Board. He was an entrepreneur and was involved in many small businesses. He was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served faithfully in many callings. Lee and Noreen served a two-year mission to Ireland and upon their return, served as Temple Ordinance Workers in the Las Vegas, NV temple. In 2011 they moved to St. George, UT.
Lee is survived by his wife Noreen; eight of their eleven children: Michael Dennis (Debbie), Brant Lee (Barbara), Connie (Lance) Robertson, Nancy (Gary) Pierce, Melanie (Donald) Davis, Kevin Ray (Colleen), Timothy Ryan (Laura) and Beverly (Bruce) Clark; fifty-one grandchildren; ninety-eight great-grandchildren with three more on the way; three great-great-grandchildren and one brother, Lloyd Delbert Bishop. He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, and three sons: Alan Bruce, Randy Dale, and James Nelson.
Funeral Services will be held Thursday, July 21, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at the Overton LDS Chapel in Overton, NV. Visitation will be Wednesday, July 20, 2016 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the Moapa Valley Mortuary, Logandale, NV, and Thursday, July 21, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. prior to services at the chapel. A third viewing will be held Thursday, July 21, 2016 from 7 – 8:30 p.m. at the Walker Funeral Home in Payson, UT. Graveside Services will be Friday, July 22, 2016 at 9 a.m. at the Payson City Cemetery in Payson, UT.
The family invites everyone to leave a message or memory in their “Guest Book” at www.moapavalleymortuary.com.
2 thoughts on “OBITUARY: James Lee Bishop”
We send our love and condolences to Sister Noreen and to the entire Bishop family at the passing of your husband, father, and grandfather. We remember Lee Bishop as a kind and caring school teacher, and a familiar and friendly face around the valley. He always greeted us with a smile and a kind “hello”. It seems he never had a harsh word, even in Jr. High English classes! He set a great example of Christlike kindness and service which will not be forgotten. Our prayers are with your family at this time. With our love, Dale and Julie Olive
I read about how nice Mr Bishopwas from a story about aviation crash research archeologist who were searching for a crashed SR71 Blackbird spy plane in the 60’s near the remote Leigh NV railroad siding.
A top-secret early version of the Blackbird called an A21 that was owned by the CIA and flow out of Groom Lake / Area 51 had crashed call somewhere in the Mormon mountains.
The searchers looking for the long lost 1960’s crash site in 1999 got stuck in the railroad wash and Mr Bishop who had an old tow truck while Mr Bishop was living in Glendale NV, Mr Bishop was hired to pull them out of the railroad wash flooded road.
The writer of the story said Mr Bishop was a super friendly old man who had an old beat up tow truck and a lot of great stories and that He was the kind of man once You met Him You would immediately take a liking him ………Paying my respect to a WWII aviation vet RIP Mr Bishop