Salt Lake City, UT - Jelaire Chandler Simpson, 88, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother returned to her Heavenly Father June 20, 2009. Jelaire was born February 27, 1921 in Ogden, Utah, the oldest of three daughters born to Ezra A. Chandler and Kathryn Marie Denkers. As a child her family moved to Southern California when Ezra began working for Southern Pacific Railroad. Jelaire graduated from Englewood High School in 1938. She then graduated from UCLA in elementary education and became a school teacher. She married Elder Robert L. Simpson on June 24, 1942 in the Arizona LDS Temple. Elder Simpson preceded her in death April 15, 2003. They are the parents of four children: Steven (Kaye); Christine (Wayne); Kathryn (deceased); and Robert (Anne). Jelaire has 13 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren. Jelaire taught Seminary for four years in Southern California. Elder Simpson was called to be Mission President over the New Zealand Mission for the LDS Church in 1958 and they moved their entire family to New Zealand for three years. Jelaire and Elder Simpson lived in various parts of the world throughout their lives after he was called to be a General Authority for the Church in 1961. These include New Zealand, England, Australia and Hong Kong. Jelaire was called to be Matron of the Los Angeles LDS Temple in 1980. Jelaire also served as Ward and Stake Relief Society President in Salt Lake City, Utah. She also volunteered for LDS Church Social Services qualifying couples for adoptions. Mother loved her children and grandchildren and was very involved in all of their lives in the most positive ways. She loved decorating houses and entertaining large groups at her home. She had an extraordinary knowledge of the scriptures and maintained a large library of books from many disciplines. She also enjoyed playing the piano and re-learned to play after her stroke in 2004. Mother was a uniquely gifted woman and will be dearly missed by many. The family would like to express a special thanks to those that helped care for Mother the past several years. Funeral services will be held Thursday, June 25, 2009 at 11 a.m at the Green Valley Stake Center, 511 South Valley View Drive, Saint George, Utah . Friends may call on Thursday from 9:15 to 10:30 a.m. at the Stake Center, prior to services. Interment will be at the Tonaquint Cemetery on Dixie Drive in Saint George, Utah. Arrangements under the direction of Metcalf Mortuary 435-673-4221.