Joseph E Stapley

Joseph E Stapley, 92, returned home to his Savior Jesus Christ on August 3, 2025 in Washington, Utah. Joe was born in Cedar City, Utah to Joseph Earl and Sylva Jones Stapley on April 18, 1933. Joe married Pat on June 9, 1958 in the Salt Lake Temple where they were sealed for time and all eternity. They were the parents of three children, Teresa Anne, Bradley Dean, and Bret Alan.

While Joe was born in Cedar City, he was raised in Summit, Iron County, Utah, and at the early age of three, he was helping on the family farm. He continued working on the farm through high school.

Joe attended school in Cedar City and graduated from high school in 1951. Joe was drafted into the Army in 1953 and served two years before starting college in 1955 at the College of Southern Utah (CSU) in Cedar City. Joe enrolled in a general engineering courses and after graduation he spent one year at University of Utah and then transferred to Utah State University for two years graduating with a degree in Civil Engineering. Joe accepted a job with the California State Highway Department and spent his career with 'Caltrans" designing, constructing, and managing parts of the California Highway System. At the end of his career, he worked as a designer, a construction administrator, traffic engineer, and finally a manager in the area of Bishop, California.

During his time at CSU Joe met a "charming young lady" who would become the "number one person in his life". Joe and Pat were married in 1958 and from that time forward they were constant companions until Pat's death in 2023. If you asked Joe what his greatest accomplishment in life was, he would point to his family.

In 1994, Joe retired and with his wife and moved to St. George, Utah, which served as a base for travel in the Stapley fifth wheel, a mission in Baltimore Maryland and finally retirement to a restful place, St. George.

Joe was active in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, serving faithfully in many callings, including Bishop of Bishop Ward in California and temple worker in St. George, Utah.

Joe was predeceased by the love of his life, Patricia in November 2023; his brother, Dee El; his brother-in-law/sister-in-law, Ray & Ila Rae Stephenson; his sister-in-law, Carola (John) Stephenson; and his granddaughter, Sylva (Brad) Stapley.

Joe is survived by his three children: Teresa Anne (Andrew) Mitchell, Bradley Dean (Donna) Stapley, and Bret Alan Stapley; brothers: Bryce (Pat) and Mike (Susan) Stapley; sister-in-law, Norma (Dee El) Stapley; and brother-in-law, John (Carola) Stephenson. Joe claims 13 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, August 15, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at the Metcalf Mortuary Chapel, 288 West St. George Blvd., St. George, Utah. A viewing will be held Friday, prior to services, from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at the Mortuary. Interment will be in the Cedar City Cemetery, 685 North Main Street, Cedar City, Utah.

To send a flower arrangement in memory of Joseph E Stapley, please click here to visit our sympathy store.