James Flake Boone

James “Flake” Boone was born July 10, 1938, in Jacksonville, Duval, Florida to James Roland and Ruth Flake Boone. He was the oldest of 14 children. He grew up in a loving family on an eleven-acre plot South of town. He had freedom to play, work and roam the woods. He also spent time at his father’s used car lot doing miscellaneous jobs to help support the family. During his high school days, he spent a lot of time doing donated labor in the building of a Stake Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This is where he found his life’s calling in construction. He worked as a journeyman carpenter, iron worker and ultimately a general contractor for the remainder of his life.

After graduation from high school, he attended Brigham Young University in Provo, UT studying Industrial Education with plans to be a shop teacher. After a year of schooling, he served a two-year mission for the Church in the Central States Mission with headquarters in Independence, Missouri. Flake served his time in Arkansas and Oklahoma. Returning to Provo after his mission, he met the love of his life Carolyn Hansen of Syracuse, UT. The two were married in the Salt Lake Temple on August 8, 1963. They would become the parents to seven children. Flake decided he wasn’t cut out to be a student and left his studies to pursue a career in construction. This led the family to various locations including Washington, Utah, Hawaii, Oregon and Arizona. He earned a General Contractor’s License in 1975 and kept it current until his death at age 85. Some of the construction projects Flake was involved in included bridges, tunnels, dams, churches, temples, a state capitol, overpasses, mines, smelters and homes. Over the course of his family life, he built 9 homes for his family to live in.

He has been active in the Church serving in various organizations and callings. At present he was serving in the Library with Carolyn. The couple served two missions together; the first was a service mission around their home in Snowflake, Arizona. The second, in St. Louis, Missouri.

Flake is preceded in death by two daughters and two grandchildren (Lisa, Natalie, Macy and Max). He is survived by his wife Carolyn, 3 sisters and 7 brothers. His children are James (Wendy) Boone of St. George, UT; David (Alice) Boone of Snowflake, AZ; Jared (Heather) Boone of Snowflake, AZ; Rachel (Daron) Gardner of Chipley, FL; Lisa Boone (deceased); Natalie (Gus & Johanna) Lundberg of Snowflake, AZ (deceased); and Heather (Jeffrey) Brimhall of Snowflake, AZ. Flake cherished his 43 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren.

Services will be held in Snowflake, AZ and be provided by Silver Creek Mortuary. A celebration of life will be held Friday, March 22 from 6-8pm at the Pioneer Park Chapel and a graveside service on Saturday, March 23 at 10am at the R.V. “Mike” Ramsay Cemetery in Snowflake.

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