Paul Dennis Simonson

Paul Dennis Simonson passed away on December 4, 2024, at his home in La Pine, Oregon, with his wife and children at his side. He bravely and stoically fought cancer for over five years without allowing it to destroy his joy for life. Paul was born April 26, 1955, in Provo, Utah, to John “Jack” Dennis Simonson and Leigh Taylor Simonson. He was the third of their five children. Several years after his father, John, passed away, Leigh married Earl Leroy Gardner and the family grew greatly in number with step brothers and sisters.

Paul was raised in Springville, Utah, and graduated from Springville High School in 1973. After high school, he attended Dixie College and also BYU. Paul met the love of his life, Ava, as a teenager and they were married on December 9, 1977. They raised four children, primarily in Payson, Utah. Paul often spoke in his final days of the great adventure of life they had shared and how much he loved her and his family. 

As a young man, Paul worked several different jobs. One of his favorites was for Progressive Music as a manager and salesman. Later he became a journeyman carpenter and a member of the Utah Brotherhood of Carpenters. He contributed to many large construction projects across the state of Utah such as power plants, bridges, hospitals, an art center, and many other projects too numerous to name. You probably drive by or use something he worked on everyday if you live in Utah. He had many cherished friendships from his work experience, his brothers. He retired from the Carpenter’s Union in 2015. Paul was an extremely hard worker. He took providing for his family very seriously.

Paul loved music, especially singing and playing the guitar. His first guitar, a Yamaha, took two years for him to pay for since he was only 12 and his income was from a paper route. Since then, he has learned many songs, licks, and riffs throughout his life and could play almost anything. Later in life, he enjoyed playing guitar and harmonica with friends at various house parties and coffee shop open mics. 

Paul had many other hobbies including pheasant and rabbit hunting with his kids. He loved hiking, fishing, off-roading, and most outdoor adventures in the mountains and deserts of Utah, Oregon, and Idaho. He was also a truly exceptional horseman, and he loved to share this passion with his kids and grandkids. In the past two decades he trained four different horses with extreme care and professional expertise. This may have contributed to his love of animals, especially horses and dogs, for whom he always had treats in his pockets. He never failed to share his passions with his family and those around him, and always managed to find adventure and joy in life wherever he went.

Paul was always looking to have fun and had a good sense of humor. Parties and reunions were more fun with him there. He had a jovial disposition in life and liked telling stories, jokes, and teasing. His hearty laugh and big smile with a wink will be missed.

Paul took great interest in his kids’ and grandkids’ activities. He attended as many wrestling tournaments, Saturday track meets, soccer games, basketball games, 4-H horse shows, and vocal performances he could get to through the years. It was clear that he was very proud of them and loved them very, very much! He also enjoyed coaching several wrestling and soccer teams.

Paul is survived by his beloved wife, Ava Simonson; his children, Paul Dennis Simonson, Michael Simonson (Morgan), Cammie Leigh Charles (Ammon), and Skylar Ray Simonson; grandchildren, Hadley Ammon Charles, Jesse Paul Charles, Henry “Hank” Simonson, and Leonard “Leo” Simonson; siblings, Elene Gourley, David Simonson (Susan), and Joy “Jo” Francks (Matt); and many beloved nieces and nephews and their children. He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Carol Jensen; nephew, Andrew “Andy” Budd Jensen; niece, Mariah Jensen; and nephew, Spencer Gourley.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, December 14, 2024, in Springville, Utah, at Wheeler Mortuary (211 East 200 South, Springville, Utah) where a visitation will be held at 11 a.m., followed by a funeral service at 12 p.m. A luncheon for family will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (860 East 200 North, Springville, Utah) starting at 2 p.m. Ashes will be distributed at a later date in a private occasion and special location of Paul’s prior choosing.

Condolences for the family may be expressed on this page.