LaMar C. Simpson Obituary (1937

Our loving father, LaMar C. Simpson, was reunited with his angel wife Donna Lee and his dear daughter Laura Ann, on March 18, 2023. He was born January 25, 1937, in Springville, Utah to Louis Francis Simpson and Catherine Fay Christensen. He was the 2nd of 6 children. LaMar lived in Springville, Utah, when he was little. He then moved Orem, Utah where he lived most of his life. He graduated from Lincoln High School, in Orem on May 27, 1955. He participated on the track team there. After high school, he moved with his family, for a short time, to Soda Springs, Idaho, for work. There he met Donna Lee Bevins. She worked at The Dairy Bar, a local ice cream parlor. One night he watched her reopen the parlor, after hours, to serve a little league baseball team that wanted ice cream. After that, he knew he wanted to marry her! He and Donna were married soon after, on April 25, 1959 in Soda Springs, Idaho. They were later sealed for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake City Temple, on April 25, 1961. They lived in Idaho for a short time while Donna was finishing beauty school. They moved to Orem when they were expecting their first child. LaMar attended Brigham Young University from 1955-1958, then attended UVSC and graduated from there as a Journeyman Plumber in 1964. He also served in the Utah National Guard. They had 7 children together, Gary, Catherine, Laura Ann, Robert LaMar, John Bevins, Troy Matthew and Amy Lynn. LaMar worked for Geneva Steel most of his adult life, using his plumbing/pipefitting skills. He retired after a tragic fall there in 2001. In April of 2003, complications to a surgery left him paralyzed. He was 66 years old. Donna became his loving caregiver and together they happily looked for the good through all of their challenges. He was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served the church by working for many hours at their Welfare Farms, thinning sugar beets and picking beans. He also served in many church callings such as a counselor in the Elder’s Quorum and then as the Quorum President, he was a High Priest Group Leader, and he worked in the Sunday School too. His most favorite calling was Home Teacher. He loved all the families he served. He had a strong testimony of the gospel and was not afraid to share it with everyone. Many times, he told of how God had blessed his life. He wanted everyone to know the gospel was true, he knew it, he loved it and he lived it his entire life! LaMar also enjoyed fishing and hunting with his brothers Louis and Paul, and later with his sons, grandsons, and brothers-in-law. But his favorite hunting and fishing partner was always his dear Donna. They enjoyed many, many trips to the lakes and mountains together and he loved telling his family and friends about all of their many hunting and fishing adventures. Their greatest joy was their 7 children, their 13 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren. They often said they loved their son’s in-law and daughter’s in-law like their own too. LaMar and Donna also enjoyed working in their yard and growing huge vegetable and flower gardens each year. LaMar grew the most gorgeous iris flowers, but his favorite, was growing beautiful roses, especially the bright pink ones. He was always out tending to his yard, flowers and garden and working on home projects from his wheelchair, until he was 85 years old! LaMar was also an avid BYU football and basketball fan and a Utah Jazz fan. He rarely ever missed watching the games and would even call and remind his kids to watch the games too. LaMar was preceded in death by his wife Donna Bevins Simpson, daughter Laura Simpson Chamberlain, father Francis Simpson, mother Catherine Fay Christensen, brothers Louis Arvil (Jerry) Simpson and Paul Simpson and sisters Marilyn Fay (Norman) Fulton and Elaine (Joe) Ash. He is survived by his children Gary (Julia) Simpson, Cathy (Ken) Brand, Robert Simpson, John Simpson, Troy (Lisa) Simpson and Amy (Robert) Lopez, 13 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, sister Diane (Lynn) Bunker and sister-in-law Esther Lois Bevins (Rick) Cluff. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, March 24, 2023 at the Lakeridge 5th Ward Chapel, 950 South 50 East, Orem, Utah. The family will receive friends at the Berg Mortuary of Orem, 500 North State Street, Thursday, March 23, from 6-8:00 p.m. and at the church Friday, from 9:45-10:30 a.m. prior to services. Interment services will be at the Orem City Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.bergmortuary.com. LaMar’s family would like to thank the many caregivers, medical workers, friends and neighbors, that have given their love and care to our father for so many years. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts! Those who cannot attend in person can view the services LIVE at https://youtube.com/live/7U03H7kzPYE?feature=share.