Michael Jeff Hepworth (Hippy, Doc, Iron Mike)

1957—2012

                Mike, beloved son of Ted and Jewel Hepworth; father to Josie Ann; brother to Brian, Roy (deceased), Grant, Quinn and Jaynee, passed away at home on February 16, 2012 after his courageous fight with cancer.  Mike was born September 7, 1957, in Salt Lake City.  Mike was a kind and generous man. He loved was by family, relatives, friends, co-workers, bosses and everybody that had the privilege of knowing him. Mike married Rebekah Vincent in 1990. They had a beautiful daughter, Josie Ann, and later divorced.

                Mike was a star athlete. He excelled in baseball, track, motorcycle hill climbing, motorcycle racing, trap shooting and ditching classes at Viewmont High School. Mike graduated with Honors from Trade Technical College in Salt Lake City. He was an artist at custom welding and modifying engines. Any dirt bike, ATV, snowmobile, watercraft or race bike that won a trophy throughout Utah, Mike either worked on it or advised on it.  Mike loved motor sports and owned several modified toys to ride in each season. In spring, Mike often rode snowmobiles in the morning and jet skis later the same day!

                Mike was an expert trap shooter and willingly showed off his skills to the dismay of other competitors.  He won so many turkeys, several relatives’ freezers were full to capacity. Besides jet skiing up rivers, camping, mountain bicycling, scuba diving, snowmobiling and dirt biking, collecting and shooting firearms was his favorite hobby.

                Mike was lovingly cared for the last year and a half by his daughter Josie Ann, Dianna McClintock, his family, doctors, nurses and care givers of Huntsman Cancer Institute and Hearts for Hospice.  We’d like to thank the University of Utah Hospital, The Huntsman Cancer Institute and Hearts of Hospice for their generosity and loving care.

                Mike honorably donated his body to the University of Utah Science Research Program.  With every donation, brings forth a new light to the cure and generations to come…

                Per Mike’s request, there was not a funeral.  He wanted a celebration. Two “Celebration of Life” wakes were held to honor Mike. Saturday March 3, 2012 from 1-4 PM at the Davis Conference Center Twilight Ballroom in Layton, Utah. Another celebration was held Sunday March 4, 2012 from 3 PM to dusk at the Full Throttle 215 Motorcross Park in Salt Lake City, Utah. 

            For those who would like to donate, there is a Michael Jeff Hepworth Memorial Fund at any Wells Fargo Bank. 

                                      Please visit Mike's Facebook http://www.facebook.com/lists/114131555382167#!/profile.php?id=100003559698257

                        Please read the Davis County Clipper Obituary
http://davisclipper.com/view/full_story/17617616/article-Michael-Jeff-Hepworth?instance=secondary_stories_left_column

            Please read the Deseret News and Salt Lake Tribune Obituary
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/deseretnews/obituary.aspx?n=michael-jeff-hepworth&pid=156161697