Mostly Cloudy, 70° F
(Oct. 4, 2006)
Funeral services for Mary Leola Hopkin Simian, who passed away in the Powell Valley Care Center on October 4th, 2006, were held on Monday, Oct. 9th, at at the L.D.S. Church, Avenue E Chapel in Powell.
Mary was born June 21, 1914, in Penrose, to Fred and Elizabeth Hopkin. She attended the Penrose School through the first six grades before transferring to Powell, where she graduated with the class of 1932. She also attended Brigham Young University for a year and then taught at a one-room school in Spence, Wyoming. She was employed by the Project Telephone Company in Powell as an operator at different intervals beginning in 1938.
On March 9, 1941, she married William Hardee in Florence, Arizona. They later moved to Thermopolis, where she owned and operated the Shirley Hotel from 1942 to 1946. She and Bill later were divorced, and in 1950 she returned to Powell where she worked for the First National Bank.
In 1954 she married Elmer Claud Simian and they moved to Colorado. A year later, Elmer suffered a debilitating stroke. After spending some time in the Veterans’ Hospital in Cheyenne they moved to Midland, Texas, to be near Elmer’s daughter, Von Markham, and her husband and family. When Elmer became bedfast, they moved to Big Springs, Texas, where he entered the Veterans’ Hospital for a few years until being moved to their own home there. Mary cared for her husband for eleven years until his passing in 1969. Mary then returned to Powell. With her years of experience in caring for the ill, she begun a career at the Powell Nursing Home until she retired in 1985.
Mary enjoyed traveling, enjoying trips to far-off places including Hawaii, Alaska and The Holy Land. She also enjoyed attending family activities with her brothers and sisters and took special interest in the accomplishments of her nieces and nephews.
She was a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and participated in various positions including a counselor in the Young Women’s Organization, ward librarian and Relief Society visiting teacher, and a member of the choir. She worked in the Family History Library until her failing health prevented her from continuing. She also enjoyed attending the temple, especially when one was built in Billings, Mont.
She resided in the Rocky Mountain Manor from 1996 to 2001 and then in the Beehive Home for a short time. In 2002, when her eyesight failed, she became a resident of the Powell Valley Care Center. Even though she faced many health problems, Mary continued to be cheerful and optimistic and enjoyed the visits of family and friends in person and on the telephone.
She was preceded in death by her two husbands, her parents, two brothers, Fred W. Hopkin and Harold W. (Whitey) Hopkin, two brothers-in-law, Jim Smith and Sam Roper, and two nephews, Harold Smith and Dennis Smith.
Two sisters, Fay Smith and Zona Roper, one brother, Burchell Hopkin, and three sisters-in-law, Alyce Hopkin, Ruby Hopkin and Dorcas Hopkin, survive her. Although she was not blessed with children of her own, her many nieces and nephews truly benefited from her love, her guidance and her examples as did all those whose lives were touched by hers. She will be missed.
Interment followed the service at the Penrose Cemetery.
