J. Michael Moyes

James Michael (Mike) Moyes passed peacefully from this life to the next on April 1, 2026, after a courageous battle with cancer.

Mike began his mortal journey (as he often referred to it) on April 13, 1951, in Cedar City, Utah, the second of eight children born to John William Albert Moyes and Margaret Ann Jex. He spent his early childhood in Beaver before his family moved north, eventually settling in Bountiful. It was there that Mike learned the value of hard work and developed a deep love for God and for serving others.

While attending Bountiful High School, Mike met his future sweetheart, Marlene Jones, though their love story would take time to unfold. After graduation, he accepted a position with the FBI as a file clerk in Washington, D.C., where he received the J. Edgar Hoover Incentive Award for Performance within his first year. He was later called to serve as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Central German Mission.

After returning home, Mike and Marlene were married on December 8, 1972, in the Salt Lake Temple. Together, they built a home in Syracuse, where they raised their six sons, known in the community as “The Moyes Boys.” Mike was a steady, devoted father who led by example, teaching integrity and the importance of showing up for others.

Mike lost his dear wife, Marlene, unexpectedly in 2016. He later married Le Ann Fowler in the Salt Lake Temple, who brought a loving and caring presence into his life. She faithfully cared for Mike during his illness and was a source of strength and comfort to him and his family. Her devotion has been a true blessing and will always be deeply appreciated.

Mike worked hard to provide for his family, often taking on extra work outside of his day job, including cleaning the Davis School District bus shop, owning his own carpet cleaning business (Shine Right Cleaning) and serving as a reserve police officer.

After many years as a custodian and later as a custodial coordinator with the school district, he became Syracuse City’s first city administrator in 1985. He was often found working alongside city crews with a shovel in hand. His frugal, do it yourself approach and willingness to lead by example earned him the respect and trust of those he served, as well as the admiration of others, and he was twice honored as Utah’s Outstanding Appointed City Official.

Following his employment with Syracuse City, Mike worked for several years as the office manager at Smith Knowles, where he fostered additional lasting friendships. Mike was loved by many for his genuine, kind nature and his quick wit. He would often say things like, “Be good and kind – but if you can’t be both, be kind of good.”

Mike had a gift for fixing things, both temporal and spiritual. He enjoyed woodworking and could often be found in his workshop crafting furniture, toys, and other items, almost always for others. He also wrote poetry, often using it to comfort others or to mark meaningful life moments.

Mike’s faith in Jesus Christ was the foundation of his life. He was steadfast in his testimony and shared it often, encouraging others in their faith. He served in many church callings, including as bishop of the Syracuse 9th Ward and the Young Single Adult ward. He cherished his time in the stake presidency and especially enjoyed serving with Marlene in the Ogden, Utah temple and as temple missionaries in the Frankfurt, Germany and Bern, Switzerland temples.

Mike was the kind of man who left people better than he found them. His impact was felt in quiet acts of service and in lessons taught side by side with those he loved. If you knew him, you were likely changed by him, and that is the legacy he leaves behind in all of us.

He is survived by his loving wife, Le Ann Fowler Moyes, and his children: Jason (Rachel) Moyes, Roy; Scott (Phyllis) Moyes, Syracuse; Troy (Nicole) Moyes, Syracuse; Brent (Stacie) Moyes, Farr West; Eric (Dee Dee) Moyes, Clinton; and Kyle (Rachel) Moyes, Syracuse, as well as 27 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren, and many who have been welcomed into the family through marriage.

Mike was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Duane, his sister Wendy, and his beloved sweetheart, Marlene.

As a family, we wish to express our sincere gratitude for the compassionate care provided by Applegate Hospice, as well as Dr. Jason Stinnett and his team at Utah Cancer Specialists.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at the Syracuse Utah Legacy Park Stake Center, 2024 South 1475 West, Syracuse. A viewing will be held Tuesday, April 7, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., and again Wednesday morning from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., both at the same location. Interment will follow at the Syracuse City Cemetery.

“The Last Stanza”

(Dad loved poetry and asked that we create/write this final verse)

Our dad and friend, our safe retreat, you showed us how to live, 

To choose the light, to see the good, to serve and to forgive.

Your hands now still, your tools at rest, your legacy endures, 

We feel you near on angel wings, a love that’s true and pure. 

This stanza penned, life’s lessons learned through wisdom and with age, 

We realize now, it’s not the end, just time to turn the page.