James (Jimmy) Wesley Platts passed away on Thursday, August 8, 2024, in Idaho Falls, Idaho.

Jimmy was born in Pomona, California on June 24, 1956, to Lovell Rollins (Frosty) Platts and Valda Belle (Dutch) Holmes. He went to school in Quartz Hill, CA. He was co-captain of the wrestling team and a three-year league champion at Quartz Hill High School. He won the national AAU championship in 1973.

Jimmy attended Brigham Young University and transferred to the University of Utah. He was the head trainer of the baseball team and an assistant to the football team at the University of Utah.

After school, he was the trainer for the Independent Missoula Montana National Champion baseball team. This got him his dream job with the Philadelphia Phillies. Jimmy was with the Phillies in spring training, gaining the respect of major players, Mike Schmidt and Steve Bedrosian. They asked him to play a round of golf with them. Mike was 6'2", Steve was 6'3" and Jimmy was 5'7". He laughed about that for 40 years. After leaving baseball, he had a career in heavy construction rentals.

Jimmy's pride and love were for his daughter, Monica Lee Marshall, a professor of kinesiology at Pasadena City College, her wife, Stephanie Terry Marshall, an attorney, his two grandchildren, Gavin Hugh and Blake Lee of Monrovia, CA, and his son Nikolaus Paul Dixon, a general contractor in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Jimmy is survived by his brother, Ricky (Mary Ellen) Platts of Marysville, WA; his sister, Deborah Jean Rea of Otterville, MO; and his brother-in-law, Dr. Keith Finlayson of Salt Lake City, UT.

He was preceded in death by his sister, Barbara June Finlayson; and his brother-in-law, James Francis Rea.

Jimmy was one of 56 first cousins and was loved for his wit, his happiness, his competitive nature and love of family.

A celebration of life honoring Jimmy will be held in Lyman, Wyoming at the annual family reunion on July 25, 2025. Cremation is under the direction of Coltrin Mortuary, 2100 First Street, Idaho Falls.