Jennings “Jay” Bryan Labrum
1938-2021
Our world collapsed on October 21st. A loving husband, loving father, proud grandfather, loyal brother and friend of all died peacefully after a valiant battle with cancer with his daughter Sherry by his side. He was 82 years old.
Jay was born on November 15, 1938 in Salt Lake City, Utah, to James Ira Labrum and Margaret Elizabeth Morse. As a kid, he loved running around the hills of Sandy, UT with his brother Jimmy (aka Grimes). In their early teens, they went camping in Little Cottonwood Canyon for a week at a time. Their shared adventures continued over the years fishing and camping on various lakes.
In 1956, at the young age of 17, he married a beautiful 16-year-old girl named Sandy Robinson in Yuma, AZ, after having known her for only 4 weeks. He always said she proposed to him! They recently celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary.
In 1959 they welcomed their daughter Sherry. It was another 7 years before daughter Kristine joined her family. He had no sons of his own, thanks to his two daughters he had 5 sons-in-law, whom he loved very much. We were all kicked to the curb when his three grandchildren Jaycee (his namesake), Steven, and Shelly came along. There was nothing he wouldn’t do for her.
Our father was a jack of all trades and could fix anything. He worked hard to support his family, sometimes working two jobs in different locations. At one time he owned his own gas station and auto repair shop before being hired by the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office, a job he dreamed of as a young boy. He was a dedicated police officer for his community and loved serving the people. The most important thing for him was to protect everyone, especially the children. Because of this, he started the Safe Passage program in Cottonwood Heights, UT. He worked with parents to make sure the children who go to and from school are safe. He served in many different departments; Traffic, armed robbery, SWAT, Undercover Vice Squad and arson. After 30 years of service, he retired as a Lieutenant in Community Policing after not reporting a single day sick. He received the Vice-President of the Year twice and too many awards to mention. We never got tired of hearing his police stories of catching the bad guys with his partner Dick Judd.
His hobbies included spending time with his family, camping and fishing on Lake Powell, looking after his beloved cabin in Holladay, helping his daughter with her restaurant, and Dad was rarely seen without his camera at hand. He was known for keeping his yard and cars in perfect working order.
Our father didn’t have a selfish bone in his body. It didn’t matter who needed help, family, friends, or strangers; he was there to help. We will miss his smiles, sense of humor, hugs, conversations, endless stories, and devotion to his family. He wasn’t just our hero, he was everyone’s hero.
Jay leaves behind his wife Sandy, daughters Sherry (Rick aka The Rickster) Lewis and Kristine (Ed aka Mr. Ed) Primosic, grandsons Jaycee, Steven, Shelly, ex-son-in-law Bob Cappaert, three sisters, two brothers and many extended family members .
He is preceded in death by his parents, stepfather, four sisters, a brother and his loving mother-in-law Grace (aka Mama).
The family thanks Dr. Mark A. Lewis, Dr. Grant Hunter, Dr. Roy Gandolfi, the nurse Tina Ouzounian and the wonderful hospice team Paula Sousa CNA, his sister Erma Simpson (alias WeeWee) and the 24 hours of his daughter Sherry for the loving and devoted care of our husband and father.
“Until we meet again dear papa”
A Celebration of Life will take place on Monday, November 1, 2021, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Starks Funeral Parlor, 3651 South 900 East, Salt Lake City, Utah. The funeral will take place on Tuesday, November 2nd, 2021 at 12:00 p.m. with a preview one hour before at 11:00 a.m. in the Starks Funeral Parlor. The funeral will take place at Memorial Holladay Cemetery immediately after the funeral at 4900 South Memory Lane, Holladay, Utah.
Arrangements entrusted to Stark’s Funeral Parlor. You’re welcome
Share your photos and memories with family on www. starksfuneral.com
Published by The Salt Lake Tribune October 27 to October 31, 2021.
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