Doyt H. Simcoe

1933 - 2021

Doyt H. Simcoe

September 15, 1933 – April 5, 2021

The third of five children, Doyt was born in Joes, Colorado on September 15, 1933. Within a year of his birth, his family moved to Breckenridge, Colorado. His father and uncles fashioned a rope tow at the city park from an air compressor they found in an abandoned mine and an old Ford truck. This is where he first learned to ski. Around the age of seven (2nd grade), Dad's family decided to leave the depressed mining town and felt fortunate to receive $150 for their home, as half of the homes had been abandoned. Dad's father found farm work in Pavilion, WY and Dad would describe their short stint there as a horrible place full of rattlesnakes and vermin of all types. When the farm bellied up, Dad's father heard that they were hiring mechanics in the Vancouver, WA shipyards. So, with four children in tow, the family set off on a near month-long journey that took them to Buhl, Idaho to visit friends from Colorado. They arrived in Buhl on Friday, December 5, 1941 with plans of heading to Vancouver that following Monday. However, two days later Pearl Harbor was attacked. Our grandfather, with only $35 to his name, decided it was best to lay roots down permanently in Buhl. Dad would finish his schooling in Buhl and graduated in 1951.

Dad headed off to Idaho State College in Pocatello after graduating high school. The next year he joined the Air Force. He spent four and a-half years serving throughout various parts of the world. He worked as a radio code operator in Hokkaido, Japan and was part of a mapping expedition in Greenland. At the end of his service, he was stationed in Brazil as part of a surveying team. He thoroughly enjoyed his time in the Air Force and had some great stories and friendships that would last a lifetime.

Upon leaving the service, Dad got serious about his studies and headed off to the University of Idaho where he would meet our mom, Roxie. He was smitten with our mother from the first time he saw her walking on campus. After dating for a short period of time, Dad "courageously" asked Mom, "You want to go shopping?" Mom said, "Yes", and boy could she shop! They were married for 53 years until our mother's passing in 2013-and that 53 years was well-lived. Together they raised three children: a construction manager/ski instructor, a software engineer/fly fisherman, and a protester. All of the children married and they delighted in five extraordinary grandchildren. Mom and Dad were a great team and in their later years they would travel and cruise the world together.

Dad got his undergraduate degree in Biology, receiving a teaching certificate that led him to teach high school science. During that time, he earned his M.A. in Education Administration/ Counseling and ended up working as a school counselor in American Falls and Pocatello. In 1967 he noticed that the Twin Falls School District was hiring for an administrator. Our mother was not keen to the idea, but Dad said he wanted the "practice" of interviewing and assured her that he was not interested in the job. After getting the job offer, he promised Mom that it would not be more than a couple of years. Twenty-eight years later Dad retired from the Twin Falls School District. He wore many hats during that time, serving as the Personnel Director, Head of Grounds, Director of Maintenance and Transportation and Director of the Migrant Education and Special Education programs. Dad was very proud to have been involved in the founding of the Head Start Program. In 1996 Dad retired from the school district but was "forced to get a job" by our mom. Interested in finances, Dad went to work for Waddell and Reed. He did this for 10 years and thoroughly enjoyed this time, taking care of clients and building relationships.

Upon our mother's death, Dad met Judy Studebaker at the Senior Fitness Class at CSI. When he invited Judy to coffee, Judy agreed, but later confessed that she had every intention of explaining to Dad that she was not interested. However, once she had that cup of coffee, she "couldn't resist those blue eyes and warm smile." Dad and Judy had seven years of companionship filled with lots of laughter and quite a few adventures around the globe that may have never happened had they not met. What a blessing they were to each other!

Dad commented often about how he felt blessed his entire life. He lived to the ripe age of 87, 86 of which were filled with good health and great friends until his cancer diagnosis a year prior. A year and a half ago, you would have found Dad hustling college students into shooting three pointers on the basketball court at CSI. Dad would tell them, "I can't run anymore but I think I can still shoot." Yes, he certainly could, and he rarely missed. Dad enjoyed music and played the guitar by ear for years. It was not until he met Gene Loranger that he would actually take lessons. He loved taking Gene's guitar class at CSI and after completing the first semester he would have to get special permission to take it over and over. Gene would always tell the office, "Yeah, let him in." At his age he can't remember what he learned last week anyway." Those two old guys had a lot of fun strummin' their guitars and telling "half-truth stories" which they did the day before he passed.

Dad is survived by his children Bryan (Randye) Simcoe of Hailey, Scott (Holli) Simcoe of Bozeman and Stephanie (Steve) Hanchett of Boise and his five grandchildren - Cameron, Samantha, Gillian, Brody and Josie. He is also survived by his brothers, Marshall and Darrell, his sister Nancy and many nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents Marshall Bryan and Erma, wife Roxie, sister Ada and an infant daughter, Ann.

Dad supported various organizations including the Twin Falls Methodist Church and the Rotary International Foundation. He also delivered meals to seniors through Meals on Wheels for several years. In lieu of flowers, we ask that you support an organization that is making your community better or simply call a friend who you haven't talked to for a while and say hi. The phone calls that Dad received these past months made the difference between a hard day and a good one.

A celebration of life will be held later this summer for family and friends.