Dr. A. James Hudson (Jim), age 95, passed away peacefully at his home on Saturday January 14, 2023. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, brother John, son Michael, and grandson Jeremy.
Jim was born on May 5, 1927 in Calgary Alberta Canada to Clarence (Arlie) Hudson and Eleanor Spencer. He was the oldest of six children, followed by sister Arlene and brothers John, David, Arthur, and Drew.
Jim started his education with the third graders in a rural one-room school but completed his schooling in Raymond Alberta. During high school, he was a junior Air Cadet in the Royal Canadian Air Force. WWII ended before he had to go to war.
Jim was musically inclined, starting out on the violin and piano, but fell in love with the cornet. He was the leader of his own dance band in high school during the big band era.
Active in scouting Jim was a Queen Scout (equivalent to the Eagle Scout), Scoutmaster, and District Commissioner in the Boy Scouts of Canada.
Jim graduated from high school early and went to Tech School in Calgary becoming a journeyman electrician by the time he was twenty. Before beginning work as an electrician, he served a church mission to Australia.
Jim met his future wife Gertrude Anderson before leaving on his mission, at his sister’s graduation dance and was smitten. Gertrude waited for him to return from his mission. They were married soon afterward in the Cardston Alberta Temple.
Jim and Gertrude had six children: Mary (David), Maureen (Wade), Michael (Patty), Marsha (George), Mark (Linda), and Meredith. He has sixteen grandchildren and twenty-four great-grandchildren.
Jim’s work as an electrician was difficult due to his colorblindness. He changed careers and went back to school earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Education at the University of Alberta Edmonton.
Jim spent a forty-nine year career as a teacher and administrator with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Education system. He started out teaching Seminary in the Glenwood/Hillspring high schools in Alberta and later in Cardston Alberta. The family moved to Provo Utah to earn his Master’s degree and later his Doctorate from Brigham Young University. While a student, he taught with the Department of Religion on campus.
The highlight of his career was being one of two directors of a BYU Semester Abroad experience in Israel where he taught as the Savior taught on the shores of the Sea of Galilee.
His next assignment was as director of the Sacramento State University Institute of Religion. The family lived in Sacramento for fourteen years. The last move was to the Boise State University Institute of Religion as a teacher. He was also given responsibility for Physical Facilities. Jim’s last assignment before retirement was as Physical Facilities Director for Moroni High School on Tarawa, in the island nation of Kiribati in the Central Pacific. With his architect wife Gertrude, they left the campus in much better shape than they found it with new buildings and a campus much better suited to the needs of the students.
Jim’s wide church experiences have been as faithful member, teacher, Bishop, and Stake Presidency. He was a life-long student of history and of the Holy Scriptures with a special love for the Old Testament prophets.
His hobbies included woodworking, electronics, music, and gardening.
From his obituary: https://www.bowmanfuneral.com/obituary/a-james-hudson/