Elvin R. Simpson

Elvin Ray Simpson December 2, 1930 - August 10, 2012 The first born son to Elmer ‘Dub’ and Minnie Simpson of Iola Kansas, December 2nd 1930, Elvin’s life began on a Midwest family farm during hard times for most Americans; but brutally hard for rural farming regions like Kansas. Two years after Elvin’s birth, a second baby boy, Verden or ‘Corky’ as he’s been nicknamed, entered the Simpson clan. Struggling to support his family ‘Dub’ remained in Kansas another four years before pulling up roots and moving west in search of a better life for his family. Landing near Parma in 1936, he found employment as a hired hand in the fields and orchards of southwestern Idaho, and shelter for his family in a small two-bedroom home three miles south of Parma. With a second baby brother due March of 1937, came a dire situation prompting a tragic three month premature delivery on January 9th. Minnie had become ill with both pneumonia and scarlet fever; she would lose her life nearly three weeks after the delivery. Marion’s chances for survival were slim, and Elmer and the boys were faced with losing him as well. Miraculously Marion survived. ‘Dub’ shortly thereafter moved the two boys, Elvin now six and Verden four, to another home west of Notus. A few months later he gathered the now stronger Marion from the care of Martin and Mary Gahley to reunite his boys. Stories are told of the long days ‘Dub’ spent farming while crating Marion in an apple box aboard horse drawn machinery. His pay, $30.00 a month, half a beef a year and a quart of milk a day; with the added bonus of a plot for a garden. To help with the boys, Elmer’s mother Annie Simpson arrived from Kansas. She took to Marion and helped with his care, but by this time the somewhat independent Elvin and his younger sidekick ‘Corky’, had habits of venturing on their own with Grandma caring for the baby. The Boise River was their Great Mississippi; Tom, Huck, Elvin and ‘Corky’. By their confessions, they were lucky to live to tell those stories. In the spring of 1940, ‘Dub’ was introduced to a beautiful 24 year old girl from Kansas named Laurene Hoyt. The two fell in love and were married in December of the same year, and the family additions continued. The newlyweds wasted no time, and in September of 1941 Wanda was born. ‘Dub’ got his baby girl. In 1943 Melvin ‘Mac’ was born. He would be the last of the clan, and the family would move again to a home near Greenleaf where ‘Dub’ and the boys would work another horse powered farming operation partnered with the Williams family, an elderly couple that needed his hard work and farming experience to work the farm. The kids attended public school at Greenleaf, and after classes raced home to change into their work cloths and complete their share of work on the farm. The family would resettle once again near Homedale in 1946 to build a family farm of their own. Ninety acres of farmland and a small one-bedroom house, no electricity, no well and no potable water, a loving wife and five hungry kids; heaven on earth! Elvin is a strong young man of 15 at this point in his life; up at five a.m. to tackle the chores, off to school five days a week and rush back home to the duties of a son on the family farm. He loved boxing and played baseball at Homedale High, where he graduated in 1949. After high school, Elvin continued with farming and began working for the Crookham Company in Caldwell in 1951. With what little time he had to spend outside his job, he did manage to attract the attention of a lovely young lady named Romelle Swart and convince her to marry him. They became a faithful couple on May 29th, 1953. Their forty nine years together produced three great kids; Ray, Patty and Mary. All three have followed Elvin and Romelle’s great example and remained faithful to their partners, each for over thirty five years, with Ray closing in on forty. Ray and Elaine Simpson of Parma have four children; Sam, Holly, Susan and Debbie. Patty and her husband Stuart Dancer live in Boise where they raised their three children; Angie, Jerimy and Mandy. Mary and her husband Terry Clinton of Caldwell are the proud parents of Matt and Kim. Elvin was also blessed with 15 great grandchildren. Elvin lost his father Elmer to a car accident in 1976. Laurene survived the accident and never remarried. She lived most of her final years in Caldwell near Elvin and Romelle, eventually moving to Twin Falls to be near her son Mac. She passed away in 2002. That same year he lost Romelle, and the following year his only sister Wanda. In 2004 Elvin did find love again, and married Irma Montoya. She was a positive spark in the heart of a man starving for a companion he so rightfully deserved. Elvin and Irma shared nearly four wonderful years before her passing in 2007. Elvin retired in 1996 as President of the same Crookham Company who hired him in 1951. During those years he also supported the community of Caldwell through his involvement with the Elks, youth sports, and men’s softball; and through the game he loved most his later years. He and his ‘over the hill gang’ golfing buddies attended several local charity golf tournaments. As a son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, friend and co-worker; Elvin was simply a great man. For all his selfless giving, God grant him the eternal life he so rightfully deserves. Services will be held Thursday, August 16th 10 a.m. at Flahiff Funeral Chapel, 624 Cleveland Blvd. Caldwell. Interment will follow at Canyon Hill Cemetery. After the service, the family would like to invite those who can attend to a reception at Orphan Annie’s Bar and Grill, 801 Everett St. in Caldwell. Service Information