Homer George Semons

Homer George Semons, lifelong resident of Pocatello, passed away peacefully at his home on March 13, 2021 from causes incident to age. Homer lived 95 long and wonderful years. His was a life well lived. Homer was born on January 1, 1926 to George John Semons and Tressa Keller Semons of Pocatello. He was raised on the family farm and learned the valuable lessons of hard work as a youngster. His mother Tressa also taught him to "love what you do and do what you love." It was she who bought him his first gun and his first fishing pole. Homer was a 1943 graduate of Pocatello High School where he excelled in Math, Art, and Track & Field. In the spring of his Senior year, he won the State Championship in the High Jump event held in Boise. Homer solidified his love for the outdoors early in life when he entered the Forest Service after high school. Working on the Clearwater river in North Central Idaho, he gained a love for the land and for the natural beauties of Gods creations. He also gained a respect for nature and for its furies as he assisted in battling wildfires, logging, clearing debris, and preserving the natural beauties for future generations. Following his summer in the Forest Service, Homer enlisted in the Navy. During the 1944 campaigns in the Pacific, he saw action in Tinian and Peleliu and later on the beaches of Okinawa. It was here that he sustained critical injuries that earned him one of the militarys highest honors, the Purple Heart. After a year long recovery in military hospitals, months after the war had ended, he returned to Farragut, Idaho for discharge and to rebuild his life. It was in facing this fork in the road that he determined that life was to be lived and to be lived welland he never looked back! Following the war, Homer received a degree in Business Administration from Idaho State University and enjoyed a long career with Idaho Concrete Products, later called Amcor. During his career he also served on the planning and zoning commission in Pocatello and received the Governors recognition for 8 years of excellence in his duties as a public employee of Idaho. In 1956, Homer married his sweetheart Barbara Jean Murphy, also a lifelong resident of Pocatello. Together they raised 3 children in the home that Homer designed and helped build. To Homer, everything worth creating had to have an artists touch and his home and beautifully landscaped yard were no different. In time, Homer and Barbara were blessed with 13 grandchildren and 27 great grandchildren. Throughout his life, Homer was also an avid outdoorsman, fisherman, and ski enthusiast. It was his lifes ambition to share the outdoors with his family and together they enjoyed an active life full of adventures that his children and grandchildren continue to this day. One of Homers greatest passions was skiing. Through years of dedicated training and certifications, Homer was privileged to teach the sport that he loved for over 50 years. During part of those years Homer and Barbara directed the Ski School Program at Pebble Creek Ski Resort. He was recognized as one of the top ski professionals in the intermountain region, and received a lifetime membership in the Professional Ski Instructors of America organization. Homer excelled in another life- long passion, Art! As a young man, Homers artwork earned him admission to a prestigious Art Academy in the Midwest and a promising future as a commercial artist. However, snow- covered mountains and streams teaming with fish called him back to Idaho to pursue another path, which he never regretted taking. Later in his life, he and Barbara enjoyed years of painting on canvas together. Always the teacher, he taught Barbara, who became an accomplished canvas artist herself. Their children and grandchildren are the recipients of some of their work that will be treasured for generations. Homer is survived by his wife Barbara, his daughter Wendy Herd of Fruit Heights Utah, and his son Mark Semons of Pocatello. He was preceded in death by his beloved son Wade Semons of Pocatello, his parents, George and Tressa Semons, his brother Paul Semons, and his sister Maxine Delauro. Funeral services will be held at the Portneuf LDS Chapel (8200 W. Portneuf Rd) on Thursday, March 18, 2021 at 11:00 am. A viewing will be held prior to services from 9:30-10:30 am. Interment will follow at Mountain View Cemetery, 1520 S. 5th Avenue Pocatello, with full military honors. The family wishes to express our heartfelt thanks to all who have known and loved Homer for the exemplary husband, father, friend, teacher, and mentor he was. Dad, you have gone home and we will miss you until we meet again.

Visitation

03/18/2021 9:30

11:00:00

Colonial Chapel

2005 S 4th Ave

Pocatello

Idaho

83201



Funeral Service

03/18/2021 11:00



LDS Portneuf Building

8200 W. Portneuf Rd

Pocatello

Idaho

83204