Snowflake residents George and Connie Boone have been selected as the grand marshals for the upcoming Pioneer Days Parade to be held on July 24 in Snowflake. George was born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida, but his mother, Ruth Flake, was a Snowflake girl and granddaughter of William J. Flake, founder of Snowflake. Ruth served a mission in the southern states and moved to Jacksonville following her marriage to James R. Boone from Georgia. George is the sixth of James and Ruth Boone’s 14 children. He has fond memories of summer trips to Snowflake and spending time with many of his relatives. He attended BYU for a year and then served a mission in the western states for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. After his mission he returned to BYU, graduating with a major in history education and a minor in physical education. Connie was born in Murray, Utah, to Dale and Dorothy Rupp and moved to Meridian, Idaho, before her second birthday. She is the oldest of eight children. She worked on her family’s farm where they grew sugar beets, corn, mint, pinto beans, wheat, and hay, and raised pigs and cattle. After graduating from Meridian High School, she went to BYU and earned a degree in home economics education. George and Connie met at BYU and were married in the Salt Lake City Temple on Dec. 27, 1968. George accepted a job teaching at Show Low Junior High but settled in Snowflake because of his great love for the town and for his heritage. He owned a pig farm until 1999 and then became a welder, constructing buildings and operating a crane. George and Connie have 12 children and are grateful to have been able to raise them in the Snowflake community. While raising their family they have served in various callings in the Church as well as working in scouting and 4-H. Connie also served for many years as a tour guide for the Heritage Foundation. They served in the Snowflake Temple from 2015 to 2017, and they served a mission in the Philippines Baguio Mission. George currently serves as patriarch in the Snowflake Stake and Connie assists by transcribing blessings. They enjoy spending time with their family which has grown to include 36 grandchildren. They enjoy cheering on the Lobos in various athletic competitions, watching community productions, and working in their yard.
