Grace Simkins

Grace Magdeline Bishop Simkins, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother passed away peacefully at the age of 107 in Cedar City, Utah on March 7, 2016 with her loving family around her.
She was born on November 4, 1908 in Hinckley, Utah to Heber Layfayette and Mary Bennett Bishop. She married Joseph Vergene Simkins June 18, 1930 in the Salt Lake Temple. He preceded her in death in 1993. She was an active member of the L.D.S. church.
Grace’s mother married her father after his first wife had passed away giving birth to their 9th child.  Grace is the 5th child of 6 in the second family.  There were fifteen children making a large and happy family.  Her ancestors were among the earliest converts to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  They were from Manchester, England and Connansquay Flintshire, Wales. They were called to settle in Fillmore, Hinckley and St. George.
Grace enjoyed her life in the rural community of Hinckley. She attended elementary and high school in that community. Her higher education included studies in St. George, BYU, and later at College of Southern Utah currently known as Southern Utah University.  After receiving her teaching certificate at BYU, she taught elementary school in Hinckley.  At this time she was courted by Joseph Vergene Simkins.  They were married June 18, 1930 in the Salt Lake Temple.  They made their home in Cedar City where their 3 daughters and 2 sons were born.
In 1958, when her children were older, she decided to renew her teaching certificate and went back to school at CSU (SUU) and in 1960 received a contract to teach in Las Vegas , Nevada where she taught until she retired in 1975.   During this time, she continued her studies and at retirement almost had her Masters Degree.  After retiring, she and Vergene moved to Sandy, Utah to be nearer her family.
Music and performance was of special interest to her.  Throughout her life, she has enjoyed playing the piano for church functions and creating and performing in operettas and road shows. She continued this passion by encouraging her children and grandchildren in theatrical and musical endeavors.
She loved to travel and enjoyed her trips to Italy, France, Germany and other European countries.  She has also toured the U.S.historical as well as LDS church sites.  Hawaii and a cruise were also enjoyed.  Her travelogues of her journeys are a joy to read because of the great detail she includes.
A few years ago she completed a book called “Living With Grace” which includes delightful renditions of experiences throughout her life and about herself and family and friends.  It includes incidents that were wonderful, humorous, spiritual and sometimes sad and tragic times. It also includes some of her poetry and important records of Patriarchal Blessings of herself and loved ones.  It is a real treasure to her family.
Vergene passed away in March of 1993 at the age of 97.  After he passed away, Grace lived independently in her Sandy home.  She cared for herself and her home with periodic help from family and friends. Part of her daily ritual was walking on her treadmill as well as other exercise.  In 2012, at the age of 103, she went to Cedar City to stay with her daughter Jeannie and husband Wally.  She enjoyed the company as well as the freedom to walk about easily.  However, in 2013, she had a fall in which she broke her arm and damaged her right eye. Macular Degeneration  had already taken much of her sight and using a walker requires you to use your arms for support. At 104, bones do not heal quickly, so it was necessary for her to reside at the Kolob Regional Rehabilitation Care Center. She enjoyed the activities there.  One of which was to be astride a large draft horse much like those she used on their farm in earlier times.  She also participated in the “Ice-Bucket Challenge” dressed in full beach regalia.  In 2015, she was an honoree for the Cedar City 4th of July Parade.  In 2008, as a 100 year old she was honored by Gov. Gary Herbert as a centenarian and at 106 by Cedar City Mayor Maile Wilson hosted by Glade Hamilton at the Kolob Center.  Of course, over the years she has had a few repairs.  Among them were  both knees replaced in her 70’s and in her mid 80’s heart by-pass surgery.
Grace has been asked many times what advice she might have. Often, her response is…”Have a dream and go for it.  Don’t expect anyone to just hand it to you”.  She always encourages the children to seek education, listen to their parents and stay close to the gospel.  She attributed her longevity to caring for her body by never using tobacco or alcohol, eating properly and exercise.  She says her greatest assets and accomplishment are her family.
Grace Simkins has more than a century of memories to share. She said her secret to living a long life is “Just enjoy life, not worrying too much and setting life goals”, which for her comma, included graduating from Brigham Young University and becoming a teacher. She said another constant in her life was waking up and thinking of a goal to accomplish each day, as well as approaching the day with a positive attitude.
Grace recalls that her mother made the best pies for Sunday dinner, so she developed her baking skills by making mistakes and learning from them. When she was first married she used some cherries from her neighbor’s tree for baking a pie. Unfortunately, she forgot to remove the pits before baking the pie.
She was preceded in death by parents, siblings and husband as well as: son-in-law Gerald Miller and grandchildren Joni Souverein and Tony Boggess, great great grandchildren Daxton Wilde and Wren Hynes.
Grace is survived by her children, Shirley Bea (Jerry) Miller, Janice (Dick) Milne, Michael (Shanna) Simkins, Jeannie (Wally) Boggess, and Gary Reed (Diana) Simkins. 18 grandchildren, 49 great-grandchildren, 10 great-great-grandchildren.
The funeral service will be held Saturday, March 12, 2016 at 11:00 am in the Hillcrest 2nd Ward, 8735 South Harvard Park Dr. (1200 East), Sandy, UT. A viewing will be held prior to the service from 9:00-10:45am. Interment will be at Memorial Mountain View Cemetery, 3115 East 7800 South, Cottonwood Heights, UT. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.memorialutah.com. Special thanks to the Kolob Regional Rehabilitation Center for their kind, loving care for 3 ½ years in Cedar City.
Service Information
Viewing March 12, 2016 at 9:00 - 10:45 AM
8735 South Harvard Park Drive, Sandy, UT





Funeral Service
March 12, 2016 at 11:00 AM
8735 South Harvard Park Drive, Sandy, UT