Hope Diana Rena Simon

Hope Diana Rena (Atherton) Simon, age 59, continued her eternal progression by exiting mortality on October 29, 2025 at her home in Taylorsville, Utah after a valiant battle with cancer.

She was born on February 1, 1966 in Garden City, Kansas to Dennis and Caroline (Bowyer) Atherton. The second of six children, she received her name because her mother hoped that she was not colicky like her older sister had been, a hope that was granted.

Hope spent her early years in the family’s hometown in Kansas and enjoyed participating in Girl Scouts with her sister and mother. As a preteen the family moved to Mesa, Arizona where she spent her teenage years.

She was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and actively participated in youth and Young Women’s activities. Girls Camp was an event she looked forward to every year. Hope had a wide circle of friends and loved loading them all into the family van to attend church dances on Saturday nights, sometimes hopping between the dances in Mesa and surrounding areas.

At age 19 she returned to her hometown in Kansas where she lived with her paternal grandparents for a year and half. She returned home to Mesa before she served a faithful mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at age 21 in the Minnesota Minneapolis Mission, an experience she treasured.

Hope’s greatest accomplishment in life was her son, Joshua Appel. She loved being his mother and he brought her great joy.

After spending many years as a single mother, Hope found love and happiness again when she married C. Scott Simon on September 19, 2014. Scott completed her and she often said he spoiled her. She enjoyed riding on the back of his motorcycle as they traveled with friends in their motorcycle touring group.

Hope was excessively creative, developing that gift through crafting. She made beautiful jewelry from beads, wire, and polymer clay. She would decorate her home with her crafts.

Hope had a great love for the gospel of Jesus Christ. She served in many callings in the church, mostly serving in Young Women's and Primary. She had a great love for the scriptures and loved teaching the children about our Savior, Jesus Christ, through the scriptures. She honored her covenants. Through her cancer battle she wanted to go to the temple on her good days, often taking family and friends with her.

She is survived by her husband, Scott Simon; her son, Joshua Appel; her mother, Caroline Atherton; brothers Ricky (Mia) Atherton and Aaron Atherton; sisters Marcy (Jon) Albritton and Sarah Atherton; brother-in-law, Daniel Moland; and many nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews.

She was preceded in death by her father, Dennis Atherton; sister, Denise Moland; great niece, Harper Sekavec; and great nephew, Mathew Sekavec.

The family will be receiving friends and offering a time for condolences on Saturday, November 15, 2025, from 1:00 PM to 1:45 PM at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (3555 W 5620 S, Taylorsville, UT 84084). The memorial service will follow at 2:00 PM at the same location.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to help offset the medical and final expenses incurred during Hope's brave battle with cancer. Donations may be sent directly to the family through:

Venmo: @sarahatherton75

GoFundMe: Support Hope Simon's Cancer Battle, https://gofund.me/f1b7f9189