Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
- Jason Michael Soulier, a Latter-day Saint mission president, died unexpectedly in France on Saturday.
- His family, in disbelief, awaits an autopsy to determine the cause of death.
- Soulier, passionate about his mission work, had just celebrated his 30th anniversary.
SALT LAKE CITY — Family members of a Latter-day Saint mission president from Utah are in shock after he unexpectedly died in his sleep over the weekend.
Jason Michael Soulier, 54, died Saturday after feeling sick for a few days, according to a statement from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His cause of death is unknown. He and his wife, Jennifer Soulier, had been serving as leaders of the France Lyon Mission since June.
Now his parents, who live in Salt Lake City, are grieving and waiting for answers about how it happened.
"He was doing what he loved best," said Mike Soulier, Jason Soulier's father. "He loved being a missionary."
In fact, for Jason Soulier, going back to France was like going home. He had served a Latter-day Saint mission in the region as a young man and spoke French.
"It was like this was his life-fulfilled mission, if you will, to go do this," Mike Soulier told KSL-TV.
Mike Soulier and his wife, Barbara Soulier, received a phone call Saturday informing them their son had died.
"Disbelief," Barbara Soulier remembered how she felt. "Just disbelief."
"I kept saying, 'How can this happen?'" Mike Soulier added. "He's a mission president over there. How can this happen?"
Jason Soulier was the oldest of four kids. Raised in the eastern United States, he later attended the University of Utah. He was a chemical engineer by training and worked in health care sales before going to France to begin a three-year assignment leading the mission in Lyon.
"He has always been very positive, no matter what life brought to him," Barbara Soulier said.
Jason and Jennifer Soulier lived in East Millcreek and had four children and several grandchildren, his parents said.
"He died just one day after their 30th anniversary," Barbara Soulier said.
Since news of their son's death became public, the Souliers have heard from a lot of people.
"A lot of them took time to tell us not just condolences," said Mike Soulier, becoming emotional, "but told us what Jason meant in their lives."
The Souliers said their son loved leading the missionaries in France and made an impact wherever he went.
"We just loved him so very much and feel like we were very blessed to have him be our son," Barbara Soulier said.
"A great son," added Mike Soulier.
The family is awaiting an autopsy they hope will shed more light on Jason Soulier's cause of death. After that, his body can be returned to the United States for his funeral.
Meanwhile, Jennifer Soulier is still in France. According to the family, she plans to say goodbye to the missionaries and pack up before returning to Utah likely late this week.
