Darlo Lee Esplin

1929 - 2018

Darlo Lee Esplin

St. George - Darlo Lee Esplin, 88, passed away peacefully on May 19, 2018. He was born on October 21, 1929 in St. George, Utah to Lee and Roma Church Esplin. He married his high school sweetheart, Grace Sullivan, on March 24, 1949 in the St. George Temple.

Darlo was raised in St George, Utah. He attended Woodward Junior High and Dixie High School. He met his future wife, Grace, in the 7th grade. They dated throughout high school and after their marriage, they moved to Logan to attend Utah State University, where he received a Bachelors Degree in Animal Husbandry and Accounting. Their first daughter, Shirlee, was born in Logan.

Darlo and Grace raised their five children in St. George. He supported his family as a rancher on the Arizona Strip with his father, Lee, and his two brothers, Donald and Stanley. His children and grandchildren had the privilege of learning the value of hard work as they spent many summers working along side him on the ranch. Darlo was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served in the bishopric and as a bishop of the St. George 5th ward. He served on the high council and was a faithful home teacher throughout his life.

Darlo was active in the Rotary Club and served on the Board of Directors for the Arizona Cattle Growers Association and for the St. George Chamber of Commerce. He also served on many Farm Bureau Committees.

Darlo was a natural athlete. He was a fast runner and excelled in sports. His nickname in high school was SPEED! He lettered in track, football and basketball at both Dixie High School and Dixie College. His Dixie High School "Six Man Football Team" won the state championship both his junior and senior years. He stayed active throughout his life, running two marathons after the age of 50.

He is survived by his children, Kelly Esplin (Danna) of Cedar City, Lori Hafen (Hans) of Santa Clara, Craig Esplin (Kelly Ann) of Boise, Idaho and Bradley Esplin (Bizzy) of St. George. Darlo's posterity include 22 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his daughter, Shirlee (1972), his wife Grace (2015), his parents, Lee and Roma Esplin, and his brother, Donald Esplin.

Funeral services will be Saturday, May 26, 2018 at 11:00 am at the St. James LDS Chapel (1095 East St. James Place, St. George, Utah). Friends may call Friday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 at the Metcalf Mortuary and Saturday morning from 9:30 to 10:30 at the St. James Chapel. Interment will take place at the St. George Cemetery.

The family would like to express appreciation to Morris and Kim Berry, Dotty Scozzafava, Jackson Jones, Freda Ford Funk, Cam Cox, and Megan Feller for their compassionate and dedicated care of Darlo during the last few years of his life.