Abner Sims

Obituary
Abner Sims, 60

What can I tell you about my best friend and husband Abner Sims?

Well, if you knew him, you most likely also loved him.
He was a larger than life super hero who was always there for anyone no matter what needed to be done.

He came into this world on Nov. 12, 1961 at Camp Pendleton Marine Base the second son of 3children. His father passed away 3 short years after Abner's birth, and his mother remarried to pilot from Wyoming. The family relocated to Pinedale Wyoming and awaited the addition of twin babies, one of which perished at birth.
During his school years Abner was involved in most all the extra curricular he could muster.
He played the saxophone in band (and received a state outstanding musicianship award), he was on football and basketball teams, and he ran track. As if that were not enough he also worked grounds for the school district there.
Abner graduated high school early, and when he did he jumped on a bus to Salt Lake City and joined the Navy.
Abner was stationed on the aircraft carrier The Corral Sea as an Aviation Ordinance Specialist. He was aboard the Coral Sea for 2 World PACs and was able to see and experience the world.
Once back, he became restless and moved to Idaho Falls, Idaho where he got a job with Mountain Ag. There he apprenticed under a deep-water irrigation expert and learned all facets of the irrigation industry.

I met him through the Thrifty Nickel Ads. Not a personal ad! I had just had an accident with my 1978 Fiat Spider. I ended up buying a parts car from him…AND I guess he came with the car because he never left!
He would give up his weekends to come down to Pocatello and help me with my car. He was always funny, and always knew how to help with anything. My car was back on the road in no time, and the next thing I knew is that we had fallen in love.
We found a little house in Blackfoot, and had a son, Dylan.
When Mountain Ag closed its doors Abner secured a mechanic job at School District 25 in Pocatello where he worked for several years as a school bus mechanic.

When another mechanic job became available at Idaho State University he jumped on it as it put us both with ISU. Life was good.

Abner had a special connection with people. He was outgoing and easy to talk to, even if you didn't want to know how his airplane and car projects were going you couldn't help but become enchanted with his stories.
He never hesitated to help anyone that needed it; he would happily do anything asked of him. He was always upbeat, helpful, and had a gift of making people feel at ease and comfortable. From most all of the offices on the ISU Campuses I have heard the stories about Abner and his easy going and friendly manner and I never doubted any of them.
He was THAT person, and our family, and anyone who knew him were blessed to be in his presence: so if you had the pleasure to know him count yourself lucky. I do.

Abner left behind:
Wife…Danielle Feige-Sims, Son…Dylan Sims, Juliet and Gary Feige, his half sister in O.K. Jackie, and an assortment of nieces and nephews scattered along the west end of Wyoming.

All his kitties (yes, he also loved all animals): Ernie, CeeCee, Dobber, Gracie, Bunny, Abby, Jabber, and Karl.
All his friends in automotive and aviation and of course all of the people that knew him and got to work with him.
We will miss him dearly (and that is an understatement).