Austin Daniel Simper

Austin Daniel Simper of Holbrook, Navajo County, Arizona passed away September 8, 2011 at his home in Holbrook. He was 90. Austin was born on October 6, 1920 in Murray, Salt Lake County, Utah to the late George and Laura (Pugh) Simper. Austin was raised in Murray, Utah were he graduated from High School. He then attended the University of Utah in Salt Lake City for 2 years. Murray was a farming area at the time and Austin grew up learning to farm and care for livestock. He married Beth Whiting (who was from Holbrook) in Santa Monica, California on March 20, 1943 and a week later they traveled to Salt Lake City and were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Austin worked for a time in the airplane factory during WWII. During his life he also worked in the Whiting Bros. Sawmill on the north side of the Kiabab and ran a restaurant in Fredonia. Most of his life has been spent farming and ranching as he never lost his love for working the land and livestock. A life long member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he will be missed by all. Austin is survived by his sons, Austin Daniel (Ellen) Simper, Jr. of Holbrook, Arizona, William J. (Candace) Simper of Holbrook, Arizona; his daughters, Sherri Lynn (Mark) Haver of Holbrook, Arizona, Laura Lee (Dan) Goodman of Show Low, Arizona; 14 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 10:00AM Saturday September 17, 2011 at the Holbrook Stake Center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1127 Helen Ave., Holbrook, Arizona with a visitation one hour prior to the services. Interment will follow in the Holbrook Cemetery.