Vernon Stuart (Stu) Hopkin of Woodruff, Utah, passed away at the age of 83 on July 6, 2017, at the Rocky Mountain Care facility in Evanston, Wyoming, surrounded by his family.
Stu was born on February 18, 1934, to Vern and May Hopkin in Ogden, Utah. He was the third of five children, and lived his entire life on the family ranch in Woodruff, Utah. He married Carol Gene Whitney (Cox) on August 15, 1960, in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. Together they raised a family of 10 children.
Stuart and Carol were lifelong faithful members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Stu served in many church callings throughout his life, including bishop, stake president and patriarch. He and Carol served a church mission to Charlotte, North Carolina, and served together as temple workers. Service to his Savior, his family, and his fellow men was always the most important aspect of Stu’s life.
Stu was also a well-respected rancher and community member. He served as a County Commissioner and worked hard to run a successful ranch. He worked closely with the Utah State extension service to improve his cattle herd and range and farmland through record keeping, soil testing, animal nutrition, and cutting-edge grazing and farming practices. He was one of the first ranchers in the area to computerize his cattle records and finances.
To his family, Stu will always be the ultimate example of kindness, humility, love and righteousness. Despite his many responsibilities and obligations, his wife, children and grandchildren always came first.
Stuart is survived by his sisters Marian (Jack) Hickey and Millie (Jim) Albertson, his brother Bill (Vesta) Hopkin, his children Vern Hopkin, JoJean (Sim) Weston, Mary (Mark) Ackerman, David (Kim) Hopkin, Michael (Debbie) Hopkin, Melissa (Thad) Willis, Chris (Michelle) Hopkin, Jennifer (Chad) Bullen, Sara (James) Graf, and Andy (Lori) Hopkin, also 47 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Carol, his brother Jim (Lael) Hopkin, and his grandson Jimmy Hopkin.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, July 15, 2017 at the Woodruff, Utah LDS chapel at 11:00 a.m., followed by interment in the Woodruff Cemetery. Viewings will be held Friday, July 14 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. and on Saturday before the funeral from 9:00 – 10:30 a.m., both times at the Woodruff Ward building.
Online condolences may be given at crandallfhevanston.com.
