John / 'Jack' Simons

John C. Simons, 87, known as “Doc” to his friends and “Jack” to his family, passed away quietly Tuesday, June 24, 2008, surrounded by his children and grandchildren. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, July 1 at 12 p.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, located at 25th Avenue and East E Street in Torrington. Interment will follow in the Valley View Cemetery. Friends and family may call Monday, June 30 from 5-7 p.m. at the Colyer Funeral Home. The family suggests donations be made to the Eastern Wyoming College Scholarship Fund. He was born Feb. 23, 1921, in Salem, Utah, the son of Ezra Ord and Effie Mae Mattinson Simons. He married Ora Miles on Aug. 7, 1953, in Salt Lake City. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Salt Lake Temple. She preceded him in death on May 7, 1993. He was a member of the Woodland Park Ward in Layton, Utah. He served twice as a bishop in the Torrington Ward and as a High Councilor in the Cheyenne Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He also served an LDS mission with his wife to Sydney, Australia. Following service with the Marines during World War II, John graduated from Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine. He was a founding partner of the Goshen County Veterinary Clinic in Torrington and also a founder and director of the Veterinary Technician Program at Eastern Wyoming College beginning in 1974. He was a member of the American College of Thereogenologists and the author of numerous articles and texts on animal nutrition. John served in the Wyoming State Senate in 1965, the House of Representatives in 1970 and was a member of the School Board for the Goshen County Unified School District for 16 years. He also served one term as president of the Wyoming School Board Association. He is survived by his three sons, Kent Simons of Miami Beach, Fla., Joe (Pam) Simons of Pleasant Grove, Utah, and John (Jennifer) Simons of St. Paul, Minn.; two daughters, Lizabeth (Blair) Whatcott of Layton, Utah, and Jean (Brent) Applonie of Salt Lake City; six grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Frances Wilde of Provo, Utha, and Florence Husari of San Francisco, Calif. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; one daughter, Katie; two brothers, Keith and Daryl; and one sister, Geneve.