For more area obituaries, please visit Schwab Mortuary.

For more resources including headstones, please visit the Star Valley Historical Society.

Jamie Pillion

Jamie Lynn Pillion

March 15, 1979 –

March 10, 2025

With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Jamie Lynn Pillion, who was light in the world who left this life too soon, just shy of her 46th birthday. Jamie was a woman full of love, kindness, and an unwavering generosity that touched the lives of everyone who knew her. She was a daughter, mother, sister, grandmother and friend. If you needed a friend, a helping hand, or even the shirt off her back, Jamie was there without hesitation.

Born in Paradise, California, Jamie made her home in Afton, Wyoming, where she spent the last 15 years surrounded by the beauty of the mountains and the animals she loved so dearly. She had a deep affection for her dogs and horses, but nothing compared to the love she had for her family—especially her beloved granddaughter.

Jamie is survived by her mother Gisele Hackley, sisters Bridget Pillion, Nicole Hunt, Sarah and Adrianna, daughters Kristen, Jenna and Taylor, a granddaughter Azelea, and a myriad of nieces and nephews who will carry on her spirit of love and generosity.

Her warmth, laughter, and selfless nature will be profoundly missed, but her legacy of love will remain in the hearts of those who knew her.

A celebration of Jamie’s life will be planned at a later date. In honor of her giving spirit, the family asks that you share a kind gesture in her memory—help a neighbor, care for an animal, or simply spread the love that Jamie embodied so well.

Barbara Bagley

Barbara Richards Lee Bagley was born May 14, 1953 to Gurney Lee and Eugenia Dalton Lee. She passed away peacefully, with her daughters by her side at her home in Afton , Wyoming on March 13, 2025 after a 3 year battle with cancer.

Barbara grew up on the family farm in Paradise, Utah along with 3 brothers and 2 sisters. She was very close to her extended family and had many wonderful memories with her cousins including floating the big ditch, and riding horses. Barbara lost her father the fall of her 7th grade year. Her mother continued to live on Sagamore Farm with the help of her children. Barbara got her first taste of teaching as a senior in high life school helping at a 3rd grade class in Smithfield,Ut. She graduated from Utah State University in 1975 in elementary education and this started what would become an almost 50 year teaching career.

Her first job was in 1975 in Bryon, Wyoming and then she spent one year teaching in Rexburg, Id. She then moved to Star Valley, Wyoming and taught at the old Afton Elementary, Star Valley Jr High, Osmond Elementary and back to the new Afton Elementary where she taught up until December 2023.  She loved teaching and she loved the kids. She also made life long friends with so many of her co workers.

She married Vance Bagley December 27, 1985. Vance had three daughters from his previous marriage and she loved having them around, when they lived on the Box Ranch up Crow Creek. Barbara had a great time sharing that part of her life with family and friends. On January 20, 1988 Marianne was born and a few years later on October 25, 1990 Rebecca was born. One of Barbara’s greatest joys was being a mother, and her next joy was being called Granzie to her three grandkids. She loved spending as much time as she could with them and went on many adventures. She would do anything for the grandkids and loved supporting them in all of their activities.

Barbara was an active member in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She had many callings from relief society, to primary. She was called as a service missionary for the distribution center and worked in the temple laundry.

Barbara and Vance divorced in 1998 but remained friends until his passing in January 2020. We would like to thank all those that stopped by these last few months to visit with Barbara, she loved the visits and reminiscing with old friends.

Barbara is proceeded in death by her parents Gurney and Eugenia Lee; sister-in-laws, Noreen (Jon), and Kristy (Rick). She is survived by her siblings; Jon (Jill) Lee, Marty (Denver) Hospodarsky, twin brother Rick, Judy (Sam) Weston, and Rob ( Angie) Lee. Also her 2 daughters Marianne (Hank) Kerr and Rebecca Bagley and 3 grandkids, Case, Ryder and Ariat Kerr, along with many nieces and nephews who will all miss her dearly.

Per Barbara’s request there won’t be a funeral or viewing, but please join us for a celebration of her life at the Afton Tabernacle on March 28, 2025 from 6-8pm. A graveside service will be held March 29, 2025 at 11:00 am, in Paradise, Utah.

In lieu of flowers please consider donating to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Humanitarian Fund.

Mary Lue Birch

Mary Lucille Thornock Birch passed away from complications of a stroke on March 20, 2025, in Lindon, Utah, where she and her husband, Glenn, were currently living. She and Glenn L Birch were married in the Salt Lake Temple on September 1, 1967. They are the parents of five daughters and one son: Andra, Marni, Abby, Russell, Amanda, and Aubrey; and later, Amma, an unofficially adopted daughter.

Mary Lue was born September 29, 1947, in Logan, Utah, to Emma Lucy McKinnon and John Russell Thornock. She grew up on her family’s ranch where she moved sprinkler pipes, and helped put up hay. She loved to ride her favorite horse, Mr. Scrud, and competed in barrel racing. She was the queen of the local Pioneer Day rodeo.

Mary Lue started her elementary school education in Randolph, Utah. When she was in the fourth grade, her family moved to their ranch south of Cokeville, Wyoming, and she finished her education at Cokeville High School, graduating in 1965. She was active in almost every activity available: cheerleading, pep club, drill team, band, stage band, choir, Junior Prom Queen, FHA, FTA. After high School, she attended BYU for two years.

As a lifetime member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Mary Lue served in many callings. She loved working with the Young Women, the Primary, and Relief Society. She played the piano and the organ for all of the organizations’ meetings. She and Glenn served as temple ordinance workers in the Logan Utah temple, and in the Star Valley Wyoming temple.

Mary Lue loved music. Her favorite calling was directing the ward choir. The number one item on her bucket list would have been to be given the opportunity to conduct the Tabernacle Choir just once. She also enjoyed teaching piano lessons to young children, which she did for many years. She had a beautiful alto voice and would sing with her favorite duet partner, Glenn, at many wedding receptions and funerals.

Food was Mary Lue’s love language. She really loved to cook and bake, and the aroma of something yummy was almost always in the air. Warm homemade bread and raspberry jam was a frequent favorite as the kids got home from school. Her cinnamon rolls and orange rolls are well loved throughout the community, and she often provided them for the hospitality rooms for the visiting athletic teams’ coaching staffs during tournaments, or music festivals, etc. Making a plethora of Christmas cookies and treats to take to the neighbors was a favorite tradition in her home. Many meals were made with love to serve those in need. She also worked as head cook in the restaurant at the Texaco Truck Stop for several years.

Mary Lue loved going on rides in the mountains and hills near Cokeville. Her favorite destination was the Big Spring in the Bridger National Forest. Her grandchildren all remember picnics at the spring, and climbing the waterfalls together. She rarely came back home from those trips without several rocks of every shape and size to add to her rock garden and flower beds. Gardening and taking care of her flowerpots was her favorite form of therapy, and was one of the things she missed most since moving to Utah.

She also had a passion for seasonal decorating and often won first place for the best Christmas decorated yard in Cokeville. The kids in town loved to see the large collection of inflatable decorations that filled her front yard throughout the year, especially at Christmas time.

Mary Lue was preceded in death by her parents, Russell and Emma Lucy Thornock, and her sister Julie.

She is survived by her husband Glenn L Birch, and her seven children: Andra (Kenny) Petersen of Cokeville, Wyoming, Marni (Robert) Harmon of Cokeville, Wyoming, Abby (Cole) Stephens of Kaysville, Utah, Russell (Ashley) Birch of Cokeville, Wyoming, Amanda (Mark) Anderson of American Fork, Utah, Aubrey (Jason) Boyer of Cedar Hills, Utah, Amma Brown of New York; 30 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren and one on the way. She is also survived by her siblings J.R. Thornock, Ernest (Karen) Thornock, Connie (John) Bird, Jeffrey (Jolane) Thornock, and many nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at the Latter-day Saint ward house on Main Street in Cokeville, Wyoming. Friends can greet the family from 9-10:45 a.m. that day, and on Wednesday evening, March 26, from 6-8 p.m.