Funeral services for Shirlee Esplin, 22, who died in Dixie Hospital on October 15 from injuries sustained in an auto accident near Leeds, Utah, were held Wednesday, October 18, 1972 at 2p.m. in the St. George 5th Ward chapel. Interment was in the St. George Cemetery under the direction of Metcalf Mortuary.
Shirlee was born May 17,1950 in Logan, Utah, the daughter of Darlo and Grace Sullivan Esplin. She had always been an active member of the LDS Church. A graduate of Dixie High School where she was the rodeo princess in 1966. Attended Dixie College and was a graduate from BYU with a BS degree from the College of Nursing. Active in 4-H she had won the “Make It With Wool” contest in Washington County in 1966. She was also the Lion’s Rodeo Queen in 1968. She had been employed as a nurse at Dixie Hospital and at the time of her death was employed at the Utah Valley Hospital in Provo, Utah.
Survivors include her parents of St. George, 3 brothers and a sister: Kelly D. Esplin – LDS mission in Southeast Asia, Craig L. Esplin, Bradley F. Esplin, and Lori Esplin, all of St. George, her grandparents, Mr. & Mrs. Lee Esplin and Mrs. Ellen Sullivan, both of St. George.
A 22 year old St. George woman died Sunday in Dixie Hospital of apparent head injuries after a one-car rollover accident 15 miles north of St. George on I-15.
Shirlee Esplin, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Darlo L. Esplin, was a pasenger in a vehicle driven by Kim Martin Parker, 20, of Provo, which was southbound Saturday about 4:30 p.m. when it went out of control on the rain-slick roadway, careened into the median and rolled twice, Utah Highway Patrol Trooper George Lang said. Miss Esplin was thrown from the vehicle. Mr. Parker suffered minor injuries but was not hospitallized.
This is Shirlee’s father’s obituary
St. George – Darlo Lee Esplin, 88, passed away peacefully on May 19, 2018. He was born on October 21, 1929 in St. George, Utah to Lee and Roma Church Esplin. He married his high school sweetheart, Grace Sullivan, on March 24, 1949 in the St. George Temple.
Darlo was raised in St George, Utah. He attended Woodward Junior High and Dixie High School. He met his future wife, Grace, in the 7th grade. They dated throughout high school and after their marriage, they moved to Logan to attend Utah State University, where he received a Bachelors Degree in Animal Husbandry and Accounting. Their first daughter, Shirlee, was born in Logan.
Darlo and Grace raised their five children in St. George. He supported his family as a rancher on the Arizona Strip with his father, Lee, and his two brothers, Donald and Stanley. His children and grandchildren had the privilege of learning the value of hard work as they spent many summers working along side him on the ranch. Darlo was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served in the bishopric and as a bishop of the St. George 5th ward. He served on the high council and was a faithful home teacher throughout his life.
Darlo was active in the Rotary Club and served on the Board of Directors for the Arizona Cattle Growers Association and for the St. George Chamber of Commerce. He also served on many Farm Bureau Committees.
Darlo was a natural athlete. He was a fast runner and excelled in sports. His nickname in high school was SPEED! He lettered in track, football and basketball at both Dixie High School and Dixie College. His Dixie High School “Six Man Football Team” won the state championship both his junior and senior years. He stayed active throughout his life, running two marathons after the age of 50.
He is survived by his children, Kelly Esplin (Danna) of Cedar City, Lori Hafen (Hans) of Santa Clara, Craig Esplin (Kelly Ann) of Boise, Idaho and Bradley Esplin (Bizzy) of St. George. Darlo’s posterity include 22 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his daughter, Shirlee (1972), his wife Grace (2015), his parents, Lee and Roma Esplin, and his brother, Donald Esplin.
Funeral services will be Saturday, May 26, 2018 at 11:00 am at the St. James LDS Chapel (1095 East St. James Place, St. George, Utah). Friends may call Friday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 at the Metcalf Mortuary and Saturday morning from 9:30 to 10:30 at the St. James Chapel. Interment will take place at the St. George Cemetery.
The family would like to express appreciation to Morris and Kim Berry, Dotty Scozzafava, Jackson Jones, Freda Ford Funk, Cam Cox, and Megan Feller for their compassionate and dedicated care of Darlo during the last few years of his life
This is Shirlee’s mother’s obituary:
Gr’ace Sullivan Esplin
St. George
St. George, Utah – Grace Sullivan Esplin, 86, passed away on June 30, 2015 due to complications of heart disease and a stroke. She was born on September 18, 1928 in Hurricane, Utah to Frank and Ellen McMullin Sullivan. She married Darlo Esplin on March 24, 1949 in the St. George T emple.
Grace was raised on a farm in Hurricane, Utah where she attended school until the 7th grade. She then moved with her parents to St. George. She graduated from Woodward Junior High and Dixie High School. She first remembers seeing Darlo in the 7th grade. They dated throughout high school and after their marriage, they moved to Logan to attend Utah State University. Their yfirst daughter, Shirlee, was born in Logan. Grace and Darlo raised their five children in St. George where Darlo supported the family as a rancher.
Grace was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and held many callings in the primary, relief society and young women’s organizations.
Grace enjoyed traveling and was able to see Japan, the Holy Land, Europe and Russia. Grace always had a project in the works. Most benefited her grandchildren with gifts of personalized porcelain dolls, Raggedy Ann/Andy dolls, jewelry boxes, quilts and many other projects.
Above all, Grace loved being a mother and grandmother. She dedicated her life to teaching her family the values of faith in God, work, responsibility and honesty. She taught this by word and by her example. She treated everyone with respect regardless of their station in life.
She is survived by her husband, Darlo Esplin, of St. George and by her children, Kelly Esplin (Danna) of Cedar City, Lori Hafen (Hans) of Santa Clara, Craig Esplin (Kelly Ann) of Boise, Idaho and Bradley Esplin (Bizzy) of St. George. Grace’s posterity includes 22 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her daughter Shirlee (1972), her parents Frank and Ellen McMullin Sullivan, and by her five older siblings, Irma, Frank, Pauline, Mac and La Donna.
Funeral services will be Monday, July 6, 2015 at 11:00 am at the St. James LDS Chapel (1095 East St. James Place, St. George, Utah). Friends may call Sunday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 at the Spilsbury Mortuary and Monday morning from 9:30 to 10:30 at the St. James Chapel. Interment will take place at the St. George cemetery.
The family would like to express appreciation to Abbey Hafen, Sadie Tanner and Morris and Kim Berry for their compassionate and dedicated care of Grace during her last few weeks of life.