Gordon Hoopes

Gordon L. Hoopes, 91 of Safford passed away at his home on February 23, 2011. He was born May 5, 1919 in Miami, Arizona to Roy and Maude Sowell Hoopes. Gordon attended school and graduated from Safford High School. After graduation, he attended the New Mexico Military Institute and the University of Arizona. It was at the U of A that Gordon met the love of his life, Fern Burtcher. Stake President Spencer W. Kimball married Gordon and Fern at the Safford Woman's Club on June 23, 1940. They built a home on Central Avenue for $3,300, and Michal was born the July after WWII started. Gordon was exempted from services because he was a farmer but was later drafted into the Navy in the fall of 1944. Debbie was born in November, just before Gordon left for active duty. After his discharge from the Navy, Gordon, Fern, Michal and Debbie moved to the farm in Central. Danny was born in July of 1947. Gordon was baptized into the LDS church in 1947 and in 1949, he and Fern were remarried in the Mesa Temple and their children were sealed to them. In 1953, they purchased a ranch near Cherry Creek, Colo., where they stayed until 1955 when they moved back to the Gila Valley. Brian was born in Denver, Colo., in March 1955. Gordon retained the farm in Central, but the family purchased a home in Safford on Relation Street. Becki was born in July of 1957. They lived there for a couple of years before purchasing their home on Elm Avenue, where they lived until their passing. Gordon and Fern loved to travel. They bought a travel trailer and drove across the Western United States and Canada. Several of their grandchildren and great-grandchildren had the good fortune of traveling with them on some of their trips. In 1992-93, Fern and Gordon served a mission at the visitor's center of the Washington, D.C., Temple -- an experience they both enjoyed. Gordon was a prominent businessman and elected official in the Gila Valley. His compassion and service to others and his community will be remembered always. Gordon is survived by his daughters, Michal (Dalton) Overstreet, Debbie (Dave) Powell, Becki (Chuck) Corley; sons, Dan (Diane) and Brian (Donna); grandchildren, Shelley Sampson, Bret Bundrick, Bobbi Robinson, Shawn and Jason Dolan, Adam, Tanner and Luke Hoopes, Hannah DeRusha, Allison Ellerman, Kyle, Sarah and Cody Hoopes, 27 great grandchildren and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his loving wife Fern in 2005 and son in law Pat Dolan in 1972 and sister Ruth Jones in 2010. Funeral Services will be conducted Wednesday, March 2, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. in the Safford LDS Stake Center by Bishop Joe Carpenter of the Safford Third Ward. The family will receive friends on Tuesday evening from 6-8 p.m. at the Caldwell Funeral Chapel and from 10 10:45 a.m. on Wednesday at the Church. Interment will be in the Safford Cemetery with military honors provided by the Gila Valley Veterans Honor Guard.