Douglas E Jacobs

Douglas Earl Jacobs, 76, of Mapleton, UT, passed away Monday, November 25, 2024. He was born February 11, 1948, in La Grande, OR, to Leo LeRoy Jacobs and Eva Jane Brown Jacobs. He married Linda Louise Walker on March 15, 1974, in the Logan Utah LDS Temple. As Doug used to say in his seminars, he was the proud parent of six children, all boys except for five girls. Doug devoted his life to living the teachings of the Savior. He served missions in the Netherlands and in later years at the St. George Family History Center for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served on multiple high councils, as a bishop in Vancouver, WA, and as high priest group leader in St. George, UT. He was stake organist at 16 in Ontario, OR, and a volunteer organist in the Portland Oregon LDS Temple. But for Doug there was no greater calling than home teacher and ministering brother. 

 Doug saved up for his mission and college by baling hay, playing in a band for area events, and as a fire lookout in the Forest Service. During college years he hung sheetrock in new stake centers and in the Ogden and Provo LDS Temples. Doug received degrees from Ricks College (now BYU Idaho), BYU, and was the first student to receive a joint JD/MBA from the J. Reuben Clark Law School and BYU Marriott School of Business in Provo, UT in 1977. 

He began his professional career in financial services working for Smith Barney Harris Upham in Portland, OR, then helped launch Xerox Life in Chicago, IL. He concluded his career working for COVA, prior to his early retirement in 2000. During this period he also worked on genealogy, indexed 30,000 names and provided hundreds of Norwegian names to extended family for temple work. 

Once retired, he was able to fully devote himself to his dream of helping people organize, record and publish their personal histories with special emphasis on their values. Doug gave frequent public seminars for a decade while completing and publishing his own personal history and those of his parents.

His other interests included playing the piano, reading history and church related books, going on long walks, traveling, and occasionally playing games. But Doug’s greatest enthusiasm was for family and the Church, closely followed by BYU sports and golf. 

Doug is survived by his siblings: Patricia McCrary of St. George, UT; Leo (Patricia) Jacobs of Syracuse, UT; and Bill (Judy) Jacobs of Fruitland, ID. He is also survived by Linda, his wife of 50 years; their six children: Brandon Jacobs of Jacksonville, FL; Shannon (Adam) Hoover of Chino, CA; Kathryn (Allen) Bolen of Highland, UT; Kristen (Ryan) Barnhurst of Culpeper, VA; Amber Jacobs of Provo, UT; and Laura (Michael) Holley of Mapleton, UT; and sixteen grandchildren. 

There will be viewing/visitations Sunday evening, December 8, from 6:00-8:00 and Monday morning, December 9, from 10:00-10:45 at the White LDS Chapel, 31 W Maple Street, Mapleton, UT, followed by the funeral from 11:00-12:15. After a family luncheon/lunch break the graveside service will be that afternoon from 2:30-3:00 at the Lehi City Cemetery, 1000 N 400 E, Lehi, UT.

In keeping with Doug’s love for personal history, if you have a special memory that includes him, please leave your memory on the website (www.wheelermortuary.com) 

 Should friends and family wish to contribute to Doug’s memorial, please consider giving to a humanitarian, missionary or educational cause through donations.churchofjesuschrist.org. 

Condolences may be expressed to the family on this page.