Menu
Vaughn Simper
Vaughn Simper died peacefully in his home on Oct. 19, 2014.
He was born June 15, 1918, in Vernal, Utah, to Alfred and Eunice Simper. He grew up in Vernal and graduated from high school there.
He married Freda Morrill on April 1, 1942, in the Salt Lake Temple. Soon after their marriage, Vaughn was drafted into the Army during World War II. He was trained as an airplane mechanic and served most of the time at Shepherds Field, La.
Vaughn loved to farm. He first farmed in the Vernal, Utah, area and in 1953 moved to Idaho. He has lived in Grand View for the last 58 years.
He was always a hard worker, took great pride in his farm and loved having a huge garden that he could share with others. He also liked to fish and hunt.
He was a devoted father and grandfather and enjoyed having time with his family.
He did not retire from farming until he was 85 years old.
As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints he served a two-year mission in The Southern States Mission. He also held many callings, his favorite being the Gospel Doctrine Teacher.
He lived with the love of his life for 39 years. Freda died from cancer in 1981.
Later, he married Charlene Wickel. He loved Charlene and her family. They spent 24 years together. She died from cancer in 2005.
Vaughn is survived by his third wife of eight years, Melode Burnett. They enjoyed visiting family and traveling together.
At the age of 96 he would tell you he had lived a good life and witnessed the progression of farming from horses to our modern technology.
He was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers, two sisters, his son-in-law, Rex Jensen, and three grandchildren.
He is survived by his wife, Melode, his six children, Eunice and Hoss Brown, Alice Jensen, Floyd and Lesli Simper, Harold and Merrilan Simper, La Nette and Evan Ricks, Wendy and Harold Hegerhorst and stepchildren Lon Wickel, Michelle Stanbrough, Leisle Fitzgerald, Rlynn Wickel, Ben Burnett, Stephen Burnett, Emily Henderson, Erin Burnett, Jonathon Burnett, 54 grandchildren, 79 great-grandchildren and 13 great-great-grandchildren.
Services will be held on Saturday, Oct. 25, in Grand View at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A viewing will be at 10 a.m. and the funeral will begin at 11 a.m. Burial will follow at the Riverside Cemetery in Grand View. Arrangements are under the direction of Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel in Mountain Home.