The following obituaries appeared in the February 13, 2019 edition of the Star Valley Independent.
Connie Corsi McClure was born September 30, 1951 to LaPriel Rainey Corsi. She was born in Afton, the youngest of four children with siblings Clyde, ElRay and Carleya. She was a beautiful baby and was much loved and spoiled by all of her family. She spent her early years living on what is now the Perkes Ranch. She loved all animals and was happiest being outside with her dad on the hay wagon and taking care of the animals. She would have been a good farmer’s wife. She lived there on the ranch until moving to Palisades where her father worked building Palisades dam. They later moved to Cougar, Washington for him to work on another dam. When she was about nine years old, they were sent to Iraq where he worked on building a dam out in the desert. It was there she learned and became a very good swimmer. During this time she was able to travel to many different countries. They came back to the United States and settled in Northern California where she graduated from San Mateo High School. Connie was very talented. She loved all kinds of crafts. She was very good at doing hair for all the neighbors, friends and family. She was an excellent cook. At one time she cooked at a girls school for 40 girls. She moved with her husband and family to Bend, Oregon. There she learned to play golf and was very good at that. It was there she lost her oldest son Richard. Then she lost her husband Ed. This was a very hard time for her. She moved to Afton in 2017 where she passed away at the age of 66. She is preceded in death by her husband Ed, son Richard, her parents and brothers Clyde and ElRay. She is survived by her son Brian, daughter Crystal, sister Carleya Erickson, grandsons Archer and Jace and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Geraldine “Jeri” Casull joined her beloved husband and soulmate in eternity on February 11, 2019.
Services will be held Friday, February 15, 2019 at the Schwab Funeral Chapel in Thayne.
The viewing will at 9:30 a.m. followed by the funeral at 11:00 p.m. Interment will be at the Freedom Cemetery.
Jeri was born in Los Angeles, California to John and Blanche Carey. She was the oldest of two children.
She moved to Salt Lake City when she was a young woman where she met Richard “Dick” Casull. Dick and Jeri were married in the Salt Lake City Temple 68 years ago.
They made their home in Salt Lake before moving to Freedom in 1974.
She is preceded in death by her husband Dick and brother John.
Lawrence K. Adams was born on February 2, 1953 in Arlington, Virginia to Mr. and Mrs. John H. Adams. He lived and worked as a locator and a chef in the DC area until moving to Wyoming to share his passion for cooking and to spend more time hiking, hunting, and snowmobiling in his beloved backyard, the Wyoming Range. Lawrence met the love of his life, Ruth Cox, in Jackson and they married on February 24, 2007. Though they found each other late in life they felt blessed to have crossed paths and found blessings in so many of the things they shared: a love of their many adoring pets, an appreciation for the neighbors and friends who became like family to them and gratitude for the opportunity to call Alpine home. When not zipping around in his Polaris RZR with his chocolate Lab, Luger, as co-pilot, Lawrence could be found at the Alpine library reading, choosing a film to watch or otherwise indulging his great sense of curiosity in history, literature and the arts. Lawrence was preceded in death by his parents.
He is survived by his wife Ruth Cox Adams, brother Bruce (Cheryl) in Alpine, sister Barb, sister-in-law Cheryl (Frank) McConnell in West Virginia, and nephews Dan (Irinia) in Alpine and Mike (Valerie) and son, Burke in Jackson. A celebration of Lawrence’s life will be held at the Alpine Civic Center on Sunday, February 24 at 2 p.m. Blessings to all.
Olivia Ann Dodson Lainhart, 77, of Thayne Wyoming, passed peacefully from this life after a battle with cancer on Monday, February 11, 2019 surrounded by her loving family. Olivia was born April 13, 1941, in Memphis Tennessee to John Paul Dodson and Claire Elaine Liber. She was the second of three children. She graduated from West High School in Nashville Tennessee and received her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Millsaps College in Jackson Mississippi. On October 1, 1962 Olivia was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and served a full-time mission in Chile. She taught Elementary School for 15 years in Salt Lake City Utah. On November 5, 1979, Olivia married Allen DeLand Lainhart, a widower with six sons, in the Salt Lake Temple. They quickly added three more sons. In addition to her duties as a full-time mother, she taught school in Etna for five years. She was always busy with the boys’ school and sports activities and still found time to reach out and help others. She had a great sense of humor and a fun, contagious laugh! For over 15 years, she has served as an Ordinance Worker in the Idaho Falls Temple, Rexburg Temple and the Star Valley Temple. Olivia and DeLand also served together in the Texas McAllen Mission from October 2006 to April 2008. Olivia was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, actively serving in many capacities, including Relief Society President and Young Women’s President. Her hobbies include art, cooking, all sports, dancing, camping, fishing, hiking, reading, and gardening. However, her greatest passion was serving others. She served her community by volunteering for the Meals on Wheels program at the Thayne Senior Center every Monday, she organized temple trips each week and made countless meals for homebound neighbors. Her cooking skills were only exceeded by her love for those whom she served. Olivia is survived by her husband of 39 years, DeLand Lainhart; their sons, Jared (Keri) of Meridian Idaho; Daniel (BreighAn) of Las Vegas Nevada; and David (Rebecca) of Mapleton Utah; as well as Jerry (LaDawna) of Thayne Wyoming, Allen (Kristy) of Spanish Fork Utah, Eric (Heather) of Houston Texas, Kurt (Kimm) of Nephi Utah, Eli (Lauralee) of Afton Wyoming, and Kyle of Thayne Wyoming; 38 grandchildren; 10 great grandchildren out bucking and one in the shoot; five brothers-in-law and seven sisters-in-law, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Paulette Culpepper; brother, John Paul Dodson II; and grandson, Keegan Lainhart. Our loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister-in-law and friend will be greatly missed by all those who were blessed by her love and friendship. Olivia was a great example of one who always followed Jesus Christ and loved life. Services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, February 16, at the Thayne Stake Center, 276 Dana Street, Thayne Wyoming 83127. The family will visit with friends and loved ones from 6-8 p.m. Friday, February 15, at the Schwab Funeral Home, 221 Jepperson Dr, Thayne Wyoming 83127 and from 9:00-10:45 a.m. Saturday at the church. Interment will be at the Thayne Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please donate to your local Senior Center.
Surrounded by her family, Suni Mitchell Summers, age 49, passed away February 5, 2019 at the EIRMC Hospital in Idaho Falls, Idaho.
Suni was born March 16, 1969 to Kathi Caulkins and Ken Jorgensen.
Surviving her is her Mother, Kathi Caulkins Jorgensen, step father Dale Jorgensen, three children, Dustin Jorgensen, Shawn Summers and Stormy Summers, brothers Ken Jorgensen and Nick Jorgensen, sister Jeannie Jorgensen, and three grandchildren.
Suni was loved by her Family and Friends. She had a beautiful heart willing to help anyone, She loved her Family.
Services will be held February 23 2019 at Schwab Mortuary in Thayne Wyoming.
Also, a Celebration of Life get together up Swift Creek sometime in mid-July. The Celebration will be announced in the local Star Valley Independent Newspaper a couple of weeks in advance.
Theodore Allen Pierce, age 70, died on Monday, January 14, 2019 in Idaho Falls, and a beautiful service was given for Ted at the Catholic Church in Thayne, on February 1, with loving friends and family in attendance, followed by a three-volley salute on a beautiful afternoon. Ted was a resident of Bedford, on a ranch with his 50 horses, two dogs, three cats and wife Susan. To say that Ted has lived a full life would be an understatement but the tales only begin to scrape the surface. He will be sorely missed but positively remembered for his witty personality, vibrant enthusiasm and endless dreaming. Ted grew up in the San Fernando Valley in California. He is the grandson of Clarence W. Pierce, the founder of Pierce College, and the son of Clarence C. Pierce, co-founder of Pierce Brothers Mortuaries across the Los Angeles valley. Growing up in Los Angeles Ted was an eagle scout, athlete and all around beach boy, with weekend trips to Manhattan Beach. Ted was a very active kid and spent quality time learning with the rodeo team and developing into a well versed healer in roping competitions. After graduating from Reseda High School in January of 1966, Ted went off to the University of Wyoming from 1966-1971 with a degree in Physical Education and Business. Ted won the Los Angeles City Diving Finals which landed him a scholarship to UW. While at Wyoming, he was a member of the Air Force ROTC program and was a member of the University Swimming and Water polo team. After graduation, Ted served in the US Air Force and was honorably discharged in 1972. After leaving the Air Force, Ted went back to Los Angeles where he was the Chief Financial officer of James and Clarence Pierce Mortuaries. After Ten years, Ted became the Commissioner of Transportation for Los Angeles County. While Commissioner, Ted was in charge of the county roads, The county Rapid Transit District ( county Bus program) and helped develop the Light Rail and Metro Rail program for Southern California. Ted and family resided in Lake Arrowhead, CA for 9 years where Ted remained involved with the mortuary until finding a new passion and becoming active in real estate. Living in the mountains, Ted was an avid skier, fisherman, golfer and cowboy. He was a member of the Los Rancheros Vistadores, a cowboy group that organized a week long trail ride in the Central California Mountains. In 1991, Ted and his family moved back to Jackson, Wyoming where he remained in Real Estate and ranch sales. He was also a ski instructor for the Jackson Hole Ski Corp and participated in the torchlight parade on New Year’s Eve on a few occasions. Ted maintained his own brokerage with his own company, Rocky Mountain Ranch Company, where he helped hundreds of people buy and sell their homes, while helping them through the process with kid gloves. A master of balance, when Ted was not showing state-wide property, Ted always found time to work his horses, take care of his long time love, Susan, and spend time with his only son Chris. Ted was an active member of the Catholic Church in Thayne, Wyoming as well as other community organizations, always eager to lend a hand. He is survived by his wife Susan and his son Chris. Ted was a lover of animals, a lover of people and a friend to so many. He leaves a huge hole in the hearts of those that knew Ted but the positive attitude that he carried with every step, lightens the path for anyone that he had the opportunity to spend time with.
“Sit tall in the saddle, hold your head up high, keep your eyes fixed, where the trail meets the sky, and live like you ain’ afraid to die. Don’t be scared…just enjoy the ride.” – Chris LeDoux
