Paul Paul Simillion
April 17, 1949 - December 10, 2007
Former Steamboat Springs resident Paul Alan Simillion died Dec. 10, 2007 in Glenwood Springs of an unexpected heart attack. He was 59.
Alan was born April 17, 1949, to Robert L. Simillion and Patricia Ament in Fruita. Shortly after Alan was born, his family moved to Glenwood Springs, and later to Boulder, where his father was employed in plant protection at the Dow Chemical Plant near Golden. His father was later accepted and appointed to the Colorado State Patrol, stationed in Lafayette Division, Boulder County.
In 1952, Alan and his mother, Patricia, were stricken with polio. Patricia passed away at that time, and Alan spent many days at Children's Hospital in Denver. After his recovery, Alan and his sister, Kendra, were cared for by their grandmother, Mary Trevethon, and his father's sister, Pam, in Glenwood Springs, where Alan began his education.
Bob Simillion transferred to Meeker, so he could be near his children and continue his assignment with the Colorado State Patrol. Bob met and married Dannette Arnold of Meeker, and reunited his family. Alan attended grade school and junior high, where he participated in sports and outdoor activities. Alan developed a special desire for the outdoors and its activities, especially fishing the White River.
Bob was transferred to Steamboat Springs, and Alan continued his education at Steamboat Springs High School, where he excelled in sports and gained a football scholarship to Mesa Junior College in Grand Junction. He attended for one year, then joined the U.S. Navy Seabees, attending training and schooling in Louisiana. He was called to serve his country in Vietnam for about 2 1/2 years.
After his discharge, Alan returned to Steamboat Springs, where he was employed by Idlegeorge Twenty Mile Coal Company, located southwest of Steamboat at a surface mine. When the mine was sold, Alan continued to work for the Twenty Mile Coal Company, becoming a "shot firer" and a heavy equipment operator. The mine was later converted to strictly underground mining, which did not appeal to Alan, so he terminated his employment after many years in the mining industry.
Alan married his high school classmate, Lauretta Stonebrink, on July 9, 1972, in Steamboat Springs. Alan and Lauretta built a home on the Stonebrink property on Twentymile Road, where their son, Brian, was born. The family enjoyed their "mini ranch," raising a few cows, calves and horses. They spent many days and hours together improving and developing their home, hunting, fishing, and bowling.
After Alan and Lauretta divorced, he returned to Glenwood Springs where he lived with his aunt, Pam. During the summer, Alan worked construction in the Glenwood area.
Alan was preceded in death by his mother, Patricia Ament Simillion; stepmother Dannette Arnold Simillion; sister Geri Simillion; and brother Patrick Simillion.
He is survived by his father, Robert L. Simillion and his wife, Carol, of St. George, Utah; son Brian Simillion of Steamboat Springs; sister Kendra Palmer, and her husband Doug, of Silt; and nephew Robert Parks of Denver. He is also survived by loving family members and friends.
Alan will be cremated and services will be scheduled for a later time in Steamboat Springs. Donations may be made to the American Heart Association.
