Elmer Vigil, age 75, passed away December 12, 2023 at the Parkdale Care Center in Price.

Elmer was an Army veteran who served with the 2nd Infantry Division on the DMZ in Camp Casey, Korea during the Vietnam Era after attending Airborne school. He was a born-again Christian who would witness to everyone that he came into contact.  He was a member of The Church of God of Prophecy in Helper and later with the Trinity Christian Center.

He had a great love of the outdoors.  He was very fond of hunting, fishing, hiking, and shooting guns.  He enjoyed making knives and furniture from antlers that he found in the mountains. He could always be found in his garage working on a project.

He worked for the Utah Railway for 35 years under Bridges and Buildings.  He was a heavy equipment operator as well as a signal foreman.  He had the nickname “Vise Grips” for his hand strength, as he was known at work for climbing poles and making repairs under the Gordon Creek Trestle Bridge.

He was a very family-oriented man who enjoyed taking his family on vacations, camping, and spending time with them on the porch in the evenings talking to friends and neighbors as they passed by.

Elmer is survived by his son, Edward Vigil, Helper; daughter, Carrie (Shawn) Mecham, Helper; his three grandchildren, Albert (Jordyn) Jeffs, Helper, Isabella (Ken) Rodriguez, Kyle, TX, and Antonio Mecham, Helper; three sisters, Rachel (Zack) Leyba, Albuquerque, NM, Berna (Phillip) Baca, Grand Junction, CO, and Perlina Baldozier, Grand Junction, CO.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Juan and Oralia Martinez Vigil; wife, Alice Vigil; sister, Rose Ortiz; and a brother, John Vigil.

Per Elmer’s wishes, there will be no services. He will be laid to rest in the Mt. View Cemetery in Helper at a later date. Arrangements entrusted to Mitchell Funeral Home of Price and Huntington where friends and family may share memories of Elmer online at www.mitchellfuneralhome.net.