Nephi Wallace Bushman

Nephi Wallace Bushman died at 84 years of age on September 3, 2013 at Snowflake AZ following a lengthy illness. He was born on June 19, 1928 in Snowflake, Navajo County, Arizona to the late Martin Degen and Phoebe (Baker) Bushman. Nephi's early years were spent helping his family raise and peddle vegetables. He was an Eagle Scout, played football in high school and was president of the Future Farmers of America, Snowflake High School Chapter. After graduating from high school, he served a mission in western Canada for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. After he returned, Nephi enrolled at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. He also worked in several grocery stores there. Nephi married the former Maxine Cox for Time and All Eternity, in the Salt Lake Temple of the LDS Church on June 26, 1952. They farmed for about 2 years, Nephi working as the produce manager at the Safeway store in Nampa, Idaho during the winter. Nephi's father requested Nephi come to Snowflake to run his father's store just prior to Southwest Forest Industries announcing plans to build a pulp and paper mill there. It was an opportune time and Nephi began construction of the Foodtown Shopping Center. For the next 20 years, he was involved in business, civic, political and church activities which included: member of the Kiwanis Club, Snowflake Chapter for 12 years; Snowflake Chamber of Commerce president for 3 years; Silver Creek District Irrigation Board president for 1 year; Republican Party precinct committeeman; Snowflake Elementary School board member; committeeman for establishment of a community swimming pool; Snowflake Town Councilman; board member of Department of Economic Planning and Development, State of Arizona; Republican candidate for Arizona State Legislature; Executive Board member of Grand Canyon Council of the Boy Scouts of America and recipient of the Silver Beaver Award; and secretary/treasurer of committee to establish a Community College in Snowflake, Arizona. After retirement, Nephi and Maxine answered 6 mission calls from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: proselyting mission to Pohnpei in the Guam-Micronesia Mission; proselyting mission to Nigeria Africa; historical site restoration mission to Chesterfield, Idaho, a community pioneered by Maxine's great-grandparents; humanitanian mission to Vietnam to teach English as Second Language; proselyting mission to Singapore Mission with assignments in Malaysiaand Pakistan; mission to Nauvoo Illinois (church historical sites tour guides and Nauvoo Temple workers); and a second mission to Nigeria to the Nigeria Aba Temple as a counselor to the temple president. At the temple dedication Nephi was set apart as a sealer and Maxine as the assistant matron by Presdent Gordon B. Hinckley. This was a very special time in both of their lives. Nephi Wallace Bushman is survived by his wife, Maxine Cox Bushman of Snowflake, Arizona; his children, Nephi II (Rebecca Stringham) Bushman of Kingman, Arizona; Samuel (Lonette Roark) Bushman of Nierstein, Germany, Bonnie (Sam) Merrill of Holladay, Utah; Rebecca (Alan) Shields of Hurricane, Utah; Joseph (Kathy Ashcraft) Bushman of Snowflake, Arizona; Naomi (Brent) Willis of West Jordan, Utah; Benjamin (Shannon) Bushman of Tucson, Arizona; 46 grandchildren and 39 great-grandchildren. A viewing will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 pm on Friday, September 6 and 8:30am Saturday, September 7 at the Main Street LDS Chapel at 421 N. Main Street. Funeral Services will begin Saturday at 10:00 am at the same location. The interment will immediately follow at the "R.V. 'Mike' Ramsey Memorial Cemetery (NW corner of 4th South and 4th West.)