Stephanie Nance

Our mother, grandmother, aunt, sister, boss, comedic relief, and friend, Stephanie Hopkin Nance, 71, of Morgan, Utah, returned to her loving Father in Heaven on September 21, 2013, after gracefully enduring Lou Gehrig's disease. To many, Steph was known for her kindness, strength, hard-work, and delicious food, but to all she was famous for her unique, contagious laugh, which made everyone smile and gave many the urge to replicate.

She was born April 13, 1942 at the "Old Dee Hospital" in Ogden, UT, the 3rd of 6 children to John Rawle Hopkin (deceased) and Nora Howard Ellis Hopkin (deceased). She graduated a proud alum of Morgan High School in 1960 having excelled in academics, the Trojan Marching Band playing the baritone saxophone and is rumored to have had "the best legs."

Steph married John Joseph Nance (deceased) on June 17, 1960 in the Logan, Utah temple and together they had 5 beautiful children. They later divorced in 1977 but remained friends and loving parents.

Steph came from a long line of excellent cooks, such as her grandmother and her father, founder of Hopkin's Cafe and Jay's Drivea�"in. In 1968 Steph purchased her father's drive-in (built in 1958) and began running the ever-popular Steph's Drive-In. She very successfully ran the drive-in while simultaneously raising her children.

Over the years, many of Morgan's youth worked at Steph's Drive-in. As a boss she taught them hard work and service to others but, more than that, she exemplified the power of positivity, contagious happiness, strength and kindness. To her employees, she was more than a boss; she was a friend, a mentor and a listening-ear. She was the best boss ever.

In the community, Steph would do whatever she could to hire adults who were in need of work...even when she didn't need the extra help. Steph made sure she donated to every organization she received a request from. McDonald's may have served billions, but over the years Steph has served an entire community with love and dedication. Steph sold the drive in to J.R. Hopkin in 2008, but continued to work there until April of 2013 when she could no longer physically do so due to the effects of ALS.

She remained great friends with her high school pals through her entire life. Her hobbies included a passion for reading, a love of movies, excelling in cooking, eating tasty food, and spending time with her family. She was hip enough to own a smart phone and text messaged with the best of them.

Steph was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She served as a member of the Primary Presidency, a devout note-taker for family history and a faithful visiting teacher all her life. In her later years she served in the Ogden Temple and loved singing in the ward choir.

She is most recently preceded in death by her sister, Sandra Hopkin Peterson, and brother Jay Ellis Hopkin. She is survived by sister Jacqueline Hopkin (Dale) Dawson, sister Deborah Hopkin Evans, and brother Steven John (Shelly) Hopkin, daughter Lesli Nance (Ernie) Durrant, daughter Mary Jo (Roger) Randall, daughter Shelly Lynn Nance, son Matthew John Nance, and daughter Tiffany Sue (John) Sowder. She is also survived by 16 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren and counting.

The Family would like to thank her devoted friends, the community of Morgan, the 3rd Ward Relief Society, home, and visiting teachers, BurchCreek Hospice, Encompass Hospice Care staff, and Family Tree Assisted Living staff for their invaluable service to her over these last few months.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, September 27, 2013 at 11 a.m. at the Morgan Rock Church. A viewing will be held on Thursday, September 26, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Walker Mortuary and September 27, from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. at the church prior to the services.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the ALS Association at www.alsa.org

Interment will be at the Mountain Green Cemetery.