James Hoopes

James Alfred Hoopes was called home unexpectedly on December 28, 2015, in Phoenix, Arizona.
James lovingly known as Jimmie is survived by his wife, Sandi Hoopes of Lyman, Wyoming; Children, James D. (Carol) Hoopes, Rick (Debby) Hoopes, Pam (Bob) Brown all of Lyman, Wyoming, Randy (Corrine) Hoopes of Roy, Utah, Kris (Merrill) Stringer of Robertson, Wyoming, Cliff (Dawna) Hoopes of Fort Bridger, Wyoming, and Kari (John) Combs of Queen Creek, Arizona. James is also survived by multiple nieces and nephews as well as his only surviving sister-in-law, Dorothy Livingston of Price, Utah.  Additionally, his legacy continues in the hearts of 26 grandchildren, 59 great-grandchildren, and 30 great-great-grandchildren, and his service dog Maggie.  He is preceded in death by his parents, Burl and Mildred Hoopes of Lyman, Wyoming, five siblings, Reed Livingston, Leona Thomas, Mildred Siddoway, Dorothy Wilder, and Burl Hoopes, as well as his grandson Jeremy Hoopes, his great-granddaughter Ashlee Saunders, and his loving pet and eighth child Rogue.
Jimmie was born on June 22, 1929 in Lyman, Wyoming to Burl O. and Mildred Hoopes.  He married the love of his life, Sandi Padgett, legally on May 27, 1975.  The marriage was later solemnized in the Logan, Utah Temple on August 4, 1980.  Their lives took form in Lyman, Wyoming where he ran heavy equipment for construction but his love was shearing sheep which he pursued for 61 years.  He taught all of his children, and then grandchildren how to work hard. His children remember him as a loving, driven, and family oriented man who encouraged them to follow their dreams.
Jimmie was accomplished in shearing sheep and was the Vice President, and later on President of the Sheep Shearer’s Union for 26 years.  He was the oldest member of the Sheep Shearer’s Union until his death.  Shearing sheep was a true passion for Jimmie. Over his many years of working sheep, he sheared over one million collectively, and two million including tagging sheep.  He also volunteered his time to shearing sheep for local 4-H participants.  Jimmie was an active member of the LDS Church and a Home Teacher for 32 years. He never once missed a visit.  Jimmie had a love of travel and the outdoors.  He taught all of his children and grandchildren to hunt and fish. He would often take them on picnics, a long drive, and to hunt rocks.
Funeral service will be held on Monday, January 4, 2015 at 1pm at the Lyman LDS Stake Center in Urie.  Viewing will be held Sunday evening at the church from 6 to 8pm as well as 1 hour prior to the service on Monday.  Interment will follow at the Lyman, Wyoming Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, a fund has been set up at Wells Fargo Bank for Jim Hoopes Memorial Fund to benefit his wife Sandi, as he would have wanted.