Florence Esther Vancil - Hoyt

Esther was born October 3, 1917 in Mitchell, Nebraska, the 4th child of 10 children born to Archie Harrison Guptill and Florence Ida Gregg-Guptill. She was a faithful member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. She graduated from Campion Academy in Loveland, Colorado in 1939. At age 52, Esther realized a lifelong dream when she received her Licensed Practical Nursing degree from Mesa College,

(Now Mesa State University) Esther married Lowell Jackson “Jack” Vancil in July 1942, in Hot Sulfur Springs, Colorado, making their home in Palisade, Colorado. They were blessed with four Children, Harrison, Thomas, Nellou, and Lena. Jack was a shoemaker by trade, he also managed the Farm Labor Office in Palisade, he soon knew every fruit grower in the Grand Valley. Later in life, Jack was employed by the Colorado State Employment Office in Grand Junction, CO. You guessed it, the kids all had summer jobs and peach harvest was the highlight of the year for the whole family.

Esther was a treasure trove of knowledge, and enjoyed teaching her children as well as all the Pathfinder kids her love of nature. She also taught her daughters sewing, cooking, baking bread & pies and canning tons of peaches. Living on a small farm/peach orchard two miles west of Palisade was the best place for the growing family. Soon there were goats, chickens, horses and burros. Harrison and Lena especially loved their horses.

After Jack’s death in 1975, Esther spent the next 13 years caring for her mother in Mesa, Arizona. She was a talented seamstress, prolific artist in oil painting, several of her family now have those beautiful paintings, creating lamp shades, and a quilt maker.

Esther married Emery Hoyt, Sr. in 1988. They truly were soulmates and enjoyed 20 years together living in Grand Junction, Colorado.

Esther was preceded in death by her parents, 7 siblings, husband Jack Vancil, husband Emery Hoyt, Sr., Two sons, Harrison Jay Vancil, and Thomas Jackson Vancil, and grandson Shane Lent.

Survivors include two sisters, Eunice Thompson of Lincoln, CA and Nina Robbs of Coal Hill, AR, Brother-in-law, Joe (Delma) Vancil of Moab, UT and Brother-in-law, Jim Vancil of Grand Junction, CO. Three daughters, Nellie (Ron) Zimmerman of Cortez, CO, Lena (Howard) Carman of Dolores, CO, and Becki (Mark) Driscoll of Titusville, FL, son Emery (Judy) Hoyt Jr. of Clifton, CO. Daughter in law, Sharon Wobick of Cortez, CO. 14 Grandchildren, Kim (Blake) Porter, Darren (Kristi) Vancil, Teresa (Jon) Bernhard, Jeff Zimmerman, Ken (Brenda) Zimmerman, Lori (Aaron) Robinson, Kari (Jeff) Zasadil, Wade (Mary) Carman, Sabrina (Scott) Efird, Todd (Jeff) Hoyt, Darrel (Kim) Hoyt, Eli (Alicia) Hoyt, Paul Driscoll, Angela (Derrick) Figueroa. 31 great grandchildren, and 10 great, great grandchildren. As well as many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.callahan-edfast.com for the Hoyt family.