Connie Kay Cropper Sledge, age 79, passed away incident to dementia in Cedar City, Utah on January 16, 2023, surrounded by a loving family. She was born in Delta, Utah in Dr. Bird's ‘lambing shed’ on July 5,1943 to Mahonri Bishop Cropper and Erma Irene Ekins Cropper. Much to the delight of her older sister, Glenda, finally a sister after 3 boys in a row. She grew up in Hinckley. After marriage she raised her kids in Sutherland. Later she would live in Beaver, Las Vegas, and St. George.
She married Douglas Fred Turner in 1962, later divorced. Their marriage was blessed with 5 children: Dean Turner, Dale (Carrie) Turner, David (Jean) Turner, Deidra (Vale) Bacon, & Denise (Zack) Sampson. She married Charles Sledge in 1996 in Oasis, Utah; later solemnized in the Payson Temple in 2015.
Connie worked in the medical field, as an EMT, for Dr. Henrie in Delta, and for a cardiac surgery group in Las Vegas. However, her real career was running! She loved running, cycling, & swimming & participated in innumerable races over the years. A highlight of her running career was her picture being used as "the flyer" advertising for and on the cover of the Huntsman Senior Games brochure. Even though she was plagued with trigeminal neuralgia she'd still be racking up the miles if it wasn't for blood clots and dementia.
Chuck and Connie enjoyed over 26 years together. They had many wonderful adventures, enjoying traveling, jet-skiing at Lake Mead, flying in Chuck's plane, snowmobiling up Beaver Canyon, riding their Harley, adventuring on the UTV, and chasing after Connie's races. They almost always included their tag-alongs, Rilee and CeeCee,. One of her most memorable adventures was hunting buffalo on the Henry’s mountains with a few of her kids. She enjoyed helping others; she also loved spending time with her family and made a point to make each of her kids and grandkids feel special. She loved camping, fishing at Fish Lake and photographing her family and landscaping. She also had an intense spiritual side, helping others through her many callings, but she also served others just because she wanted to with no obligation. She was a hospice volunteer while living in Beaver. She also loved serving as a temple worker in the St. George Temple. She made special friends everywhere she went and was known for aiding in mischievousness and for her "inappropriate" sense of humor. Maybe that's one of the reasons her grandkids, nieces & nephews loved her so much. Well, that and her undying support of her loved ones no matter what trouble they would get into!
Connie is survived by her husband, children, 40 grand & great grandchildren as well as her siblings: Glenda Conk, Gaylen (Kathy) Cropper, and Mary Ellen (Aaron) Evans; and we cannot leave out sister-in-law: Ann Cropper. She is preceded in death by her parents and brothers: Adam Lee & Daryl Cropper.
Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, January 28, at 11:00am, at the Nickle Mortuary Chapel in Delta. A viewing will be held 9:30-10:40am, prior to the service. Burial will follow in the Oasis Cemetery. Online condolences may be left at www.nicklemortuary.com
The family wishes to thank Dr. Woolley as well as the staff at Stonehenge in Cedar City for their loving care of Connie, especially her favorite physical therapist, Dean Turner.