The following obituaries appeared in the February 27, 2019 edition of the Star Valley Independent.

Betty Jaques, former resident of Mesa, Colorado, passed away February 18, 2019. She was born April 18, 1925 in Canon City, Colorado to George C Strickland and Majorie Monce Strickland. She moved with her parents to Plateau City, Colorado in 1929. In 1939 the family moved to Collbran, Colorado. She attended all 12 years of school in Collbran, and graduated from Collbran Union High School in 1943. Betty met Verl Jaques in the summer of 1943 and they were married September 22, 1943 in Grand Junction, Colorado and made their home in Mesa. They farmed and cut timber on the Grand Mesa. They had two children, Helen and Dale. After Verl passed away on November 3, 1993 she continued to live in Mesa until September 2013. At that time she went to live with her daughter Helen, in Alpine, Wyoming until her death. Betty worked at the Powderhorn Ski Corp, the former Grand Mesa Winter Sport Inc. for 32 years, retiring in 1991. She sold lift tickets and was the ticket office manager. She also did house cleaning, painting and wallpapering, worked at the fruit stands in the Palisade area, and some house and dog sitting. Betty was always available to help friends with a ride to the doctor and shopping or anything else they needed. She had a kind and giving nature. Betty enjoyed the outdoors, gardening, fishing, horseback riding, traveling, and loved to dance. She is survived by her daughter Helen, granddaugthers Lori, Holly, and Kelly. Two great grand daughters Cassie and Savanna; two great grandsons Kyle and Jacob; and one great great grandson Kaleb. Her son Dale died Sept 30, 1989. One brother, John Dale Monce was killed in action in France in 1944 during World War II. A service and burial will be at the Mesa Cemetery in the Spring.

Billy Barnett “Red” Cagle, 94, of Star Valley Ranch, Wyoming passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 2, 2019 at University Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah with his wife Arlene and two of his daughters by his side. Bill had fallen at his home on Tuesday and was life-flighted to the hospital in Utah Tuesday night. Bill was born on January 20, 1925 to William and Fannie Cagle in Gordon, Arkansas. He is a Veteran of World War II in the Army Air Corps. Bill met his first wife, Margaret, in Arkansas and they had three children together. Margaret passed away in 1971 and Bill met his present wife in 1972 on Mother’s Day. They were married on Mother’s Day in 1976. Bill worked as a machinest and sales manager for Automotive Engineering in Northern California until purchasing a franchise from the company in Vallejo, California in 1979. In 1989 Arlene convinced Bill to retire and they came to Star Valley to build their retirement home. Bill was an avid sportsman and his love for hunting and fishing drew them to Wyoming. He had hunted in Wyoming for over 30 years. Being Christians and their love for Jesus Christ, they made many friends of all faiths in Star Valley. Bill is survived by his wife Arlene; daughters Shirley Williams of Thayne, Jeanette Harder of Edmond, Oklahoma, son Don (Barbara) of Spokane, Washington; step-daughters Dana Jennings and Tracey (Ken) Bates of Phoenix, Arizona; four grandchildren, Bradley, Lisa, Tammy and Jennifer; six great grandchildren, Nicki, Bryan, Maggie, Megan, Jacob and Caitlin. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, first wife Margaret and a grandson, Jacob Cagle. Bills cremation was handled by Larkin Mortuary in Salt Lake City. There will be a Celebration of his life at a memorial barbeque this July for all family and friends at his home on Star Valley Ranch.

Our gentle and loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, F. Burton Winters passed away peacefully on February 17, 2019. Burton was born on July 12, 1933, in Lyman, Wyoming, to E. Francis Winters and Margaret Burton Winters. Burton’s love for music and the gospel of Jesus Christ formed the foundation for his life of consecrated service. He served as a missionary in the North Central States Mission. He later earned a bachelor’s degree in music education and a master’s degree in religious education, both from Brigham Young University. He was sealed to his eternal companion, Joyce Adams, in the Salt Lake Temple on June 1, 1956. Burton’s friendship with Joyce blossomed when they were cast as the leads in their high school musical in Afton, Wyoming. Throughout their lives, they performed together in hundreds of musical settings, including concerts, funerals, community plays and events, and for nearly a decade as members of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, where they sang in concert halls across the world. Burton’s love for the gospel of Jesus Christ was evident in his profession as a seminary and institute teacher with the Church Educational System, as well as in his dedicated service as a church leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He taught thousands of high school and college students in Idaho, Arizona, and Utah, primarily at Davis High School in Kaysville. He twice served as a bishop and paid special attention to the youth and widows of the ward. He gave hundreds of patriarchal blessings during his 38 years of service as a patriarch in the Church. He was a true disciple of Jesus Christ, an example of one who has faithfully walked the covenant path. Beyond his devotion to the Savior, Burton’s greatest love was his own family, and he inspired a remarkable legacy of faith among his posterity. He was a devoted, loving, and faithful husband to Joyce for over 62 years. His family loved his gentle nature, wise counsel, beautiful woodwork, resonant bass voice, and clever wit. Burton is survived by his wife, Joyce; children, Mark (Liesle) Winters, Steven (Marcia) Winters, Christine (Kent) Hatch, David (Pamela) Winters, Alan (Jill) Winters, Jennifer (Dean) Taylor; 28 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren; and siblings, Allene Robinson, Kathleen Call, Evan Winters, John Winters, Bruce Winters, Mary Cluff, Ann Moulton, Wayne Winters. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Joan. The entire Winters family expresses their gratitude to many wonderful friends and neighbors who have given their love and support, as well as to doctors, nurses, and therapists who skillfully cared for him during his final days. Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 23, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. at the Kaysville Utah Central Stake Center, 555 North 100 East, Kaysville. Friends may visit family Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lindquist’s Kaysville Mortuary, 400 North Main and Saturday from 9 to 10 a.m. at the church. Interment, Kaysville City Cemetery.

Laurel Joyce Madsen, longtime Hermiston resident, was born August 22, 1931, in Thayne, Wyoming, to parents Franklin James and Blanche Idell Haderlie Sibbett. She passed away on February 15, 2019, in La Grande at the age of 87 years. Known by Joyce, she was raised and attended school in Star Valley, Wyoming, and later in Layton, Utah. She attended Davis High School in Bountiful where she was a member of the Pro Schola club and participated in other social activities. While attending Davis High she met the love of her life, Donald B. Madsen, and they were united in marriage on June 30, 1950, in the Salt Lake City Temple. She worked a variety of jobs over the next couple of years, including being a telephone operator, while Don pursued his education in Ogden, Utah, and later in Caldwell, Idaho. While in Caldwell Joyce gave birth to their first son, Michael. They moved several more times living in Parma, Idaho, and Dayville, Ore., before settling in Hermiston in 1956. In Hermiston she gave birth to their second son, Mark.
It was there that Joyce decided to return to college to become a teacher. She commuted to Pendleton for two years and then later to La Grande for two years in pursuit of her degree. She went on to teach at Sunset Elementary in Hermiston for the next 25 years. Joyce retired in 1995, but still loved the students in the classroom and enjoyed substituting for several more years. She had many hobbies including cooking, baking, scrapbooking and gardening. For each of these activities she had her favorite tools: butter, endless photos and Miracle-Gro. While she enjoyed these activities, nothing compared to the joy of being around her family. She relished gatherings and traditional holidays with family and friends. In addition to her children she mothered ball players of all ages. She was the faithful coach’s wife, logging hundreds of hours on benches around the state and preparing countless team meals at their home. Joyce and Don helped to instill knowledge, values and character in so many young children and adults through parenting, teaching and coaching with compassion and love. Joyce was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She served in many callings including a stake mission with Don to the Willow Creek Branch for two years. She is survived by her sons, Michael Madsen, Hermiston, Ore., and Mark Madsen and his wife JoAnna, La Grande, Ore.; siblings Jay Sibbett, Las Vegas, Nev., and Cheryl Humphrey and her husband Wayne, Maple Valley, Wash.; grandchildren Ashley (Greg), Allison, Steven (Danielle), Anne (Jake), Soren (Lacey), Seth and Sophia; great-grandchildren Kole, Emery, Tyler, Elizabeth, Angel, Charlotte, Sawyer and Reese; many loved precious nieces and nephews; and countless ball players and students. She was preceded in death by her husband Don of 66 years, her parents, and a brother, Kent Sibbett. A funeral service washeld on Saturday, February 23, 2019, at 10:30 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 850 S.W. 11th St., Hermiston, Oregon. Burial will follow at the Hermiston Cemetery, Hermiston, Oregon. Please share memories of Joyce with her family at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com

Mary Jo Merritt Schwab passed away peacefully on February 19, 2019 at the Rocky Mountain Care facility in Logan, Utah. Her family is grateful that they were able to spend many hours at her bedside in her final few days. She valiantly endured her physical trials to the end of her earthly life. Mary Jo was born in Afton, Wyoming on May 23, 1939 to Joseph Marvin Merritt and Lera Barrus Merritt. She was the seventh of eleven children. Mary Jo grew up in Thayne, Wyoming and learned to work hard at a young age on the family dairy farm. She graduated from Star Valley High School in Afton in 1957 and then graduated from Utah State University with a degree in elementary education. While in high school, mom was named Yearbook Queen and played in a dance band named “The Clefs”. The student body president that year, Scott, was also a member of “The Clefs” dance band. Apparently he made an impression on her, because on June 30, 1961 she married her sweetheart, Scott Kingston Schwab in the Logan, Utah Temple. Together they raised and nurtured their five children in love and harmony. He preceded her in death in 2007. It comforts our hearts to think of their reunion. Mom had long awaited that joyous day. Mom worked for many years as a music teacher, teaching band and orchestra in elementary and junior high schools throughout Star Valley. She taught the younger students and dad taught the high school students. The team-teachers are together again. No doubt they have already organized a heavenly choir. Mom was born with a gift for music and a love of teaching and sharing music. She shared her talents with many throughout her lifetime. She had the gift of true pitch, could sight-read just about any music, and was an accomplished pianist. She was sought-after as a piano teacher and accompanist and enjoyed working with individual students and groups throughout her life. She especially had fond memories of working with Utah Festival Opera Company on the production of Peter Pan. Mom had a love of arranging and writing music as well. She created beautiful arrangements and medleys; some of which will be used as music for her funeral. She loved flowers, gardening, and making things grow. One of her greatest delights was to plant and tend her beautiful flower beds. She delighted in the colors and shapes of flowers and always knew the types and varieties of each. She loved playing Scrabble with her family, traveling with her husband, and supporting her children in all of their activities. She truly loved her family. She let us know often that her prayers and thoughts were always with us. She was a devoted and faithful mother and will be greatly missed. Her influence also extends to the hundreds of students who were taught by her, as she instilled a love and appreciation of music in their hearts. This musical legacy continues through the generations of her family and others who were touched by her gift. She was a faithful, lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving as a Relief Society President and in a variety of musical callings and roles throughout her life; in church, civic and community events, and for home, school and family performances. She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Scott; brothers LaVon, Orrin, and Alan; and grandson Andrew Schwab. She is survived by her five children: Carol Ann (Sterling) Larsen of Louisville, Kentucky; Sandra Kay (Bruce) Walker of Soda Springs, Idaho; Orrin (Valeta) Schwab of Providence, Utah; Tracy (John Joseph) Schwab of Cheverly, Maryland; and Ryan (Erin) Schwab of Mesa, Arizona. She is also survived by brothers Dean, Lavere, and Wayne and sisters Marie, Beth, Marlene and Bonnie; 23 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. We know how much those at the Pioneer Valley Lodge enjoyed mom’s piano playing after meals and on other occasions. Funeral services were held under direction of Schwab Mortuary on Saturday, February 23 in Logan, Utah. Interment was in the Afton Cemetery. Condolences may be expressed online at www.schwabmortuary.com

Wanetta Passey Clark passed away February 11, 2019, at the age of 74. She was born on April 16, 1944 in Afton Wyoming to Delvin Parley Passey and Veda Vilate Passey. She was welcomed by her siblings Rose (West), Arnold, Onae (Murphy), and Lynn. She was the youngest of 5 children. Wanetta was raised on a ranch north of Thayne Wyoming. Wanetta married Mark Clark Jr. May 04, 1959. They lived and helped on the Ranch, east of Etna.This is where they had their first 4 children, Carol, Connie, Gary and Tammy. In the spring of 1973 they moved just south and above the canal where they started working their own land. This is where they added Shelia, Marc, Mindy and Margo to the family. Wanetta always took an active part with the farm. They raised sheep for many years before switching to cattle. One of her favorite jobs was swathing. Many of her kids were born around the time the hay needed cut, she would be back to swathing within days, with the newborn baby rightalongside. Another favorite was spring, calving season. She was known for being out in a blizzard checking her cows wearing flip flops. Wanetta loved animals. She always had many pets. Often during winter storms there would be two or three calves on the floor in front of the fireplace warming up. Her husband, Mark Clark Jr. passed away November 13, 1985. Wanetta was suddenly left with six of her eight kids still at home with four of them under the age of 12, a ranch to run and cattle to tend. She was determined to do the only thing she knew how to do, WORK HARD AND NEVER GIVE UP. She was known for her coffee and her cooking, especially her Cinnamon rolls. Her house was always welcoming, Wanetta had a big heart, andShe would take in her children’s friends and treat them like her own. She loved and spoiled her grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents Delvin and Veda Passey, Her husband Mark Clark Jr. Sister; Rose, Brother; Arnold Brother; Lynn,Son in law; John Roe Hale. Grand Children;Destiny and Dawn Turner, Thaddeus John Hale, and Marisa Wanetta Clark. She is Survived by her eight children, Carol Peck husband Ole, Connie Linford husband Rick, Gary Clark wife Tina, Tammy Heiner husband Stacy, Sheila Turner, Marc Clark wife Deanna, Mindy Clark, Margo Peterson husband Paul, 23 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren.