The following obituaries and death notices appeared in the October 15, 2025 edition of the Star Valley Independent.
For more area obituaries, please visit Schwab Mortuary.
For more resources including headstones, please visit the Star Valley Historical Society.
Christy Stewart-Bettes
With deep sorrow, we announce the passing of our beloved mother, Christy Stewart Bettes on August 29, 2025 at the age of 63.
Born on February 9, 1962 in Grand Junction Colorado, Christy was the cherished daughter of Dagmar and Luys Horn.
Christy made Star Valley her home in 2012 and was well known in the Afton community. She took great pride in owning and operating Christy’s Café at Colter’s Lodge. Christy was a lover of animals and the outdoors. She lived a simple pastoral life, gardening, fishing, hunting, and hiking through the woods with her 3 dogs.
Christy is survived by her loving children, Michael Justen Stewart and Ciera McClain, and her grandchildren Connor, Caylin, and Wes, and her partner Dave.
A celebration of her life will be held on October 25, 2025 at Gather on 89 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Lucky’s Place in her memory.
We take comfort in the memories she leaves behind. She will be profoundly missed by all who knew her.
Melanie Thompson
Melanie Rozelia Thompson, 68, of Clearfield, Utah, passed away surrounded by loved ones on October 3, 2025 after a sudden and unexpected cardiac event that caused her loving heart to give out.
Melanie was born March 27, 1957 in Afton, Wyoming, the fifth of eight children to Dell and Nola Cazier.
Throughout her life, Melanie was known by many names: Melanie, Mom, friend, sister, Aunt, councilor, advisor, but the name she carried that brought her the most joy was Grandma, Grammy, or Mimi. After raising three sons and three daughters, she was blessed with thirteen grandchildren. Her children and grandchildren were her greatest sources of joy.
She met Richard Thompson in the autumn of 1977 and they were sealed for time and eternity on May 20, 1978 in the Idaho Falls, Idaho Temple, going on to have six children, Christopher (Chris), Rebecca (Becky), Megan, Sarah, A.J., and Nathaniel (Tanner).
When Chris came along, Melanie decided to dedicate her life to being a wife and mother. In that, she was second to none. She attended every school concert, sporting event, science fair, and supported everyone in their passions, joys, struggles and challenges, whether that was marriage, child birth, divorce, or loss of a loved one.
Melanie’s only love greater than that for her family was her love for her Savior. She served in various callings as an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints including service in both the Ogden and Syracuse, Utah temples, as well as serving a full-time mission with Richard from 2013 to 2015 in the island nation of Cape Verde, located in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of West Africa.
Many people received one of Melanie’s famous hand-made greeting cards. When she wasn’t busy with her crafts, she was filling her home with love and the smells of cooking food and baking desserts. We will miss her greatly.
Melanie was predeceased by her grandparents Ted and Rosalia Cazier, parents Dell and Nola Cazier, her loving step-mom, Lola Cazier, her brothers Ted and Andrew Page Cazier, and her granddaughter, Madeline Alyse.
She is survived by her loving husband Richard; each of her six children: Chris (Sandra) Thompson, Becky (Jeron) Larsen, Megan (Tyler) Smith, Sarah (Adam) Persson, A.J. (Brianna) Thompson, and Tanner; and 12 grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Friday October 10, 2025 at 11 a.m. at the Clearfield 11th Ward, 1245 S. 1175 E., Clearfield, Utah. Family and friends visited Friday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the church prior to the service.
Interment, Afton Wyoming Cemetery.
Services entrusted to Lindquist’s Layton Mortuary, 1867 N. Fairfield Rd., Layton, Utah.
