October 8, 1933 to June 2, 2022

James Taylor Duke passed away on June 2nd in his home of 50 years, surrounded by his family. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend, and was deeply loved by his posterity. Jim was a kind and gentle man, who will be dearly missed by his beloved wife and family. He loved his Savior Jesus Christ, and was dedicated to helping others throughout his entire life. He loved to talk to others and get to know people of all cultures and backgrounds.

Jim was born in Salt Lake City to Otto and Beatrice Taylor Duke and grew up on 7th East in Salt Lake City. For a short time, his family lived in Fairbanks, Alaska, where Jim was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He later attended East High School in Salt Lake City, and served a two-year mission in the Western States Mission.

He attended the University of Utah. Here, he met his sweetheart of more than 63 years, Ruth Stella Sidwell, at the Institute of Religion at the U of U. They were married by (then Elder) Spencer W. Kimball in the Salt Lake Temple on August 22, 1958. They are the parents of nine children and many precious grandchildren and great grandchildren, who they are very thankful for and love dearly.

Jim earned a Bachelors and Masters degree from the University of Utah in Political Science, then earned a PhD in Sociology from UCLA. Jim began his teaching career at Idaho State University, then soon got the opportunity to teach Sociology at BYU, where he taught students for the next 40 years. He was named as the 1971 BYU Professor of the Year and received the Hickman Scholar Award in 1998. He loved many things about BYU, especially building relationships with students and expanding their appreciation of humanity, going to football games with his children, and getting to bear his testimony to his class at the end of every semester. He traveled extensively for his career, including leading a Semester Abroad in Grenoble, France and twice serving as the visiting professor for the Washington, D.C. Seminar. Jim loved to experience new cultures and meet and befriend people of all backgrounds during his travels and teaching.

Jim published many articles as a BYU professor of Sociology. He also published "Conflict and Power in Social Life" (1976), and "The Literary Masterpiece Called the Book of Mormon" (2004) and was the lead editor for "Latter Day Saint Social Life" (1998). But he was especially proud of an article he wrote for The Ensign, Drawn Out in Prayer Continually, published in February, 1987.

Jim loved music of all kinds. As a child, he learned to play the ukulele, a skill that delighted his family well into his retirement years. He also loved singing in ward choirs. He filled his home with uplifting music, and taught his children to love music as well.

Jim was also an avid runner. For many years, he would get up early to study the scriptures and then go running. This was often when he gained his most profound insights. Jim was a devoted disciple of Christ all his life. He served others through many church callings, including bishop, branch president, stake clerk, high councilor, bishopric counselor, boy scout leader, and gospel doctrine teacher. In his later years, Jim served as a Church service missionary for 4 ½ years for the Church Research Information Division (RID) in Salt Lake City. He then served in the Mt.Timpanogos and Provo Temples as a temple worker with his beloved wife, Ruth. He loved doing good to others through his service in the Church and in the House of the Lord.

The things that Jim loved the most in life were his Savior, Jesus Christ, and his family. He is survived by his wife, Ruth Stella Duke, and their children Jim (Kay), Shari (David McLean), David (Charis), Steven (Kristin), Richard (Kristen), Kathy McFarland, Angela (Ken Kaufman), Jeff (Ariana), Lisa (Spencer Reese), and their wonderful posterity. He is also survived by his sister-in-law Hanne Duke.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Otto and Beatrice Duke, his brothers Keith (Jean), Mel (Helen), David, his sisters Barbara (Allen Rushton), and Beatrice (Bryant Bullen) and his great-grandson Peter McLean.

We would like to thank the many caregivers who provided care and support in his final weeks. His funeral will be held at the Sharon 3rd Ward building on 730 E 400 S. Orem, UT 84097 on Saturday, June 11th at 11:30. There will be a viewing for family and friends from 10:00 am to 11:00 am that morning at the same location. The ward choir will be singing the prelude music which will start at 11:15 along with the live stream of the service. He will be buried in Wasatch Lawn Cemetery at 3401 S Highland Dr, Millcreek, UT 84106.