James “Jim, Jimmy” LeRoy Beck died on July 25, 2021 at his home in Ogden, Utah. He was 75 years old. His body gave way to cancer and its many complications, but his heart was still full of life.
Jim was born on March 6, 1946 in Preston, Idaho, to Syble Wells and Ardith LeRoy Beck. Jim was a seeker of truth from an early age. Nothing was true to Jim unless he experienced it for himself. His understanding of the truth began with his intrapersonal search to find himself. This became a lifelong journey for him.
In 1972, Jim’s pioneering spirit led him to found his first company, Solaray, Inc., the first herbal supplement company to introduce herbs in two-part, easy-to-swallow capsules. Previously, herbs were chopped and packed in paper bags for sale. He made many advances in the field of nutritional science and developed many of the herbal supplements sold in the health food market today. Solaray, Inc. grew into a thriving nutritional supplement manufacturing company selling its products, including uniquely formulated herbal supplements, to health food stores around the world. Solaray was built on a quality standard that has become the benchmark for other nutritional supplement manufacturers. Jim ran Solaray through Nutraceutical as president until its purchase in 1994. Until a few weeks before his death, Jim spent many hours each day continuing his research to find new uses for herbs for mankind to be used in new products currently being developed.
Jim was the driving force behind the implementation of the Health and Nutritional Supplement Education Act (DSHEA) that made the nutritional supplement industry what it is today. The bill was sponsored by Senator Orrin Hatch in 1994. DSHEA has led to a sensible approach to the regulation of nutritional supplements and is actually why we still have commercial health food stores as well as vitamin and herb manufacturers.
Hard work was never alien to Jim. As a young man, Jim worked with his father to maintain the grounds of Lindquist’s Memorial Gardens of the Wasatch, where he will be buried. At that time, he had to dig the grave sites by hand, which took a whole day.
Jim earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Weber State University in 1968, majoring in psychology and chemistry as a minor. Upon graduation, Jim was drafted into the Army and served as a Specialist E4, Medical / Psychologist in Vietnam from September 11, 1968 to April 13, 1970. Although he had spoken out against the war, he decided to discharge his obligation because he felt that as a medical professional / psychologist, the best way to serve humanity was to address mental health issues in his comrades instead of using violence.
All his life, Jim taught and cared for others about nutrition and health. He always generously shared his own experience researching nutritional supplements. Many people from his circle of friends and family owe him their good health. Jim is ‘walk the walk’ with his organic, vegan diet and has expressed many times that food is our most important ‘medicine’ for health. He also practiced pranayama yoga techniques, shared his expertise as a teacher, and wrote books.
His children have fond memories of Saturdays with frisbee throwing, swimming, hiking, table tennis, rollerblading, tobogganing, cycling and much more. For many years Jim devoted Saturdays to playing with his children. They also have memories of annual backpacking trips to the Wind River Mountain Range and other trips to places like California, Hawaii, and Europe.
Jim loved spending time with his family. He leaves behind an abundance of other family members, good friends, co-workers, and neighbors who will all miss the light that he has brought into their lives. He has often been her source for health and nutrition information, a counselor, advocate, and a wonderful man.
The family would like to thank the many members of the health professions who became friends and “family” during his treatment trip, as well as the hospice for the loving care at the end of life. The loss of Jim is heartbreaking, but those he left behind will be comforted knowing he is free from suffering. For seven years he fought cancer as an example of dignity and grace. Those closest to him knew him as the bravest man they had ever known. In the end, he took his last breath in his home in South Ogden and rested peacefully.
His memory is kept alive by his three children Nathanial Beck (Laura), Kasandra Hyde (Brian) and Candace Miles (Brandon); his longtime companion and advisor Valere McFarland; Sisters Maxine Palmer, Patricia Henry, and Sally Webb; eleven grandchildren; and nieces and nephews, Alan Palmer-Carter (James), Jessica Seibt (Paul), Lucas Webb, Tammy Webb, Crystal Webb, and Isaac Webb.
Memorial services will be held on Thursday, August 5, 2021 at 2 p.m. at Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Blvd. Friends can visit the morgue with the family on Thursdays from 12.30pm to 1.30pm. Funeral, Lindquist’s Memorial Gardens of the Wasatch, 1718 Combe Rd.
Published by Lindquist Mortuary – Ogden July 29th to July 30th, 2021.
Comments are closed.