James (Jim) Layton Kurtz, 83, passed away Tuesday, March 21, 2023, at his home in Kanab after battling with Parkinson’s and heart disease. He was a devoted husband, father, and grandpa. Jim was born on March 26, 1939, in Cleveland, Ohio to Russell L. and Betty B. Kurtz. He was the oldest of two children. He grew up in Cleveland, Ohio and attended grade school and high school at Bainbridge School. He was married to Gwendolyn Gable in 1957. They had two children and were later divorced. He then married Marilyn Smith in Las Vegas in 1974 and gained a daughter. They have one son together. 
 Jim had many jobs in his adult years. From 1957-1963 he was in the Marine Corps Reserves at Camp LeJeune, NC. After his service, he lived in Cleveland where he worked as a machinist at Weatherhead. He left Cleveland for California in 1963 where he later met and married the love of his life, Marilyn. While in California he worked as a heating and air conditioning technician. In 1979 he had the opportunity to move his family to Kanab, Utah, where he could pursue his love of boating and camping in addition to opening his own business. He and Marilyn owned and operated the J&M Car Wash, Laundromat, and RV Supply business in Kanab. They later sold the business and he went to work for the Kane County School District. He did maintenance at Kanab High School, was a bus driver, and a crossing guard. After retiring from the school district, he continued his adventures as an RV transporter, his all time favorite job. Marilyn and his grandkids would often accompany him on these treks across the country. His last employment was with Grand Canyon Expeditions where he enjoyed hauling the boats to the river.
 Jim loved being outdoors, camping on the Kaibab, boating on Lake Powell, and especially taking off in their RV and traveling all over the United States with his family and friends. He was quite the handyman who could fix virtually anything and enjoyed working on projects around their property. Jim and Marilyn also built two log homes in the Kanab area, which is a reflection of his work ethic and skills.
 Jim is survived by his sweetheart Marilyn; his daughters Cheryl Gilbride of Atascadero, California and Robin (Darrin) Coleman of Kanab, Utah; his son Dean Kurtz of St. George, Utah; brother-in-law Bill Smith (Michelle) of Fredonia, Arizona; sister-in-law Amanda Kurtz of Valencia, California; 10 grandchildren (Dylan, Briana, Connor, Aidan, Richel, Nick, Josh, Austin, McKenna, and Jarrin), 13 great-grandchildren; and 1 great-great-grandchild. He is preceded in death by his parents, his son Jimmy, and his brother Gary L. Kurtz.
 We wish to give a special thanks to Holly Houston, Kamille Glover, and the rest of the staff at Zion’s Way for their loving care and assistance over the past year. We appreciate you all.
 To honor Jim’s wishes, there will be no funeral service. In lieu of flowers, we invite you to remember Jim the next time you’re out camping and boating or by donating to the Kane County School District Literacy Dept. Please make checks payable to Kane County School District Literacy. Mail to: 746 S. 175 E. Kanab, UT 84741. Or you may Venmo @KHS-2021 (business account), memo Jim Kurtz.
 Arrangements were made with Mosdell Mortuary.