The following obituaries appeared in the March 11, 2020 edition of the Star Valley Independent.

For more area obituaries, please visit Schwab Mortuary.

William (Bill) Melvin Payne was born July 14, 1945, in Afton, Wyoming to William Harvey Payne and Marla Vilate Hoopes. They were living at Sage Valley, Idaho at the time of his birth, where Harvey was ranching. Later, they moved to Eugene, Oregon where Harvey and his brother Ralph began logging. They moved back to Afton in 1949. In 1951 they moved to Westwood, California where Bill started school. They lived in a logging camp between his third and fourth grades for a few weeks and then moved to Montgomery Creek, California. His days as a young boy were full of adventure and wonder. His dad began raising hounds and hunted every spare moment and often took Bill when he was not in school. In two years they moved to Melville, California, where he attended a school with all eight grades in one room, in the bottom of a Masonic Hall. Bill was a gentleman even then, and always took care of Louise and Pat, his sisters. That was where his love for fishing began in earnest. Every summer day was spent fishing or hunting. They moved back to Fairview, WY where he graduated from Star Valley High School. In his youth, Bill worked as a packer for the Forest Service and carried pesticide on horseback to spray for pine beetles deep in the Yellowstone Wilderness. While in high school, he began his registered Holstein dairy herd. He later graduated from Utah State with a Bachelor’s Degree in Animal Science and a minor in Chemistry. While in college, he married Loretta Campbell. To this union, a daughter and son were born, Marlow and Bren. After graduating, he came back to Star Valley and worked for Ernest and Martha Brog on their family dairy farm in Freedom. After those few years, he moved to Fairview and bought a small farm. Around that time Bill and Loretta divorced. Hard times fell upon the dairy business and he had to sell his farm. He then started working for his brother Kevin in his auto body shop. Next, he worked for his good friend Kirk Mitchell doing excavation work. During this time he fell in love with Patsy McGavin Cazier and the two were married in 1991. With this marriage, he gained four more children: Heidi, Anthony, Jason, and Casey. Later in life Bill worked for Simplot Smokey Canyon Mine and retired after 25 plus years of honorable service. After his retirement, he went back to Simplot as a security guard where he worked until the time of his death.
Some of Bill’s fondest memories were spending countless precious hours with his kids and grandkids teaching them many lessons of life and fishing. There could be a whole book dedicated to Bill’s fishing adventures and the lives he has touched doing this hobby. One of his favorite adventures was his annual Alaska Fishing Trip with his son and best friends. They spent time in Ketchikan and Petersburg, Alaska bringing home crab, cod, salmon, and many people’s favorite, halibut. Over the years, Bill could be found plowing snow around the neighborhood, helping with various handyman projects, and delivering thousands of fish to ecstatic neighbors. He served in several positions in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. One being his favorite, was serving as a volunteer with Patsy in the baptistry of the Star Valley Wyoming Temple where he served religiously every Friday evening.
Bill passed from this life on March 4, 2020, from complications caused from a previous diagnosis of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.
He is survived by his wife, Patsy; Children: Marlow Payne Thurman; William Bren Payne (Heather); Heidi Erickson (Mckay); Anthony Cazier (Teressa); Jason Cazier (Dyann); Casey Cazier (Elizabeth); Siblings: Louise Nield (Dan); Pat VanTassel (Boyd); Kevin Payne (Mary); 18 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, March 10, 2020 at 12:00 p.m. in the Afton 3rd/4th Ward Building of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Mayo White Call, Orem, Utah, died peacefully at home, March 2, 2020, after enduring many years with painful spinal stenosis and Parkinson’s disease.
He was born August 4, 1931, to Charles Stayner and Lucille White Call in Afton, Wyoming.
From a very early age, the mountains and canyons, creeks and waterfalls around Star Valley, were his playground-with binoculars, guns, and fishing poles as gear. He described himself as “curious” about everything! He loved sleeping out under the stars, contemplating the mysteries of the universe. He was the ultimate “fish whisperer,” casting his fly to coax reluctant fish to the lure. He loved all things outdoors. Living creatures were his friends…especially birds for whom he built hundreds of houses each summer.
He loved taking horses and hiking into his favorite Wind River Range.
His curiosity led him to excel in academics, graduating as Class Valedictorian from Star Valley High School in 1949.
He married Loa Draney from Tygee, Idaho in 1951, During their 8 years of travel in the army, Captain Call piloted helicopters, fixed-wing planes, and was a paratrooper. Their three children changed schools frequently as he was transferred around the beautiful USA. Always, there was the consistency of heading for the hills to enjoy overnighters in nature. He had a deep love for this beautiful country.
His academic accomplishments included a Bachelor’s degree in Wildlife and Forestry, Master’s degree in Wildlife Management/Zoology and a PH.D. in Ecology and Wildlife Management. He followed his passion to success employment. He retired as Utah’s State Biologist for the Bureau of Land Management.
He and Loa were later divorced.
Norma, Mayo’s sister, introduced him to a teaching colleague, Elsie Gardner. They were the perfect match and were married in 1975. Elsie’s two young children were a blessed bonus. He loved all five children and his posterity very much.
He loved the gospel of Jesus Christ and served in many positions in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He and Elsie served for many years as Stake Missionaries in the Afton Wyoming Stake as well as 12 months in the Provo, Utah, Mission Training Center Mission. Some of his last words were: “The gospel is true. That is all that matters.”
He is survived by his beloved wife, Elsie, of 45 years and children, Sheri Berroteran and Nathan Gardner of Winchester California, Roger (LeeAnn) Call, Great Falls, Montana, Lori (Kelly) Burningham, Bountiful, Utah, Debra (Steve) Nickle, Alpine, Utah, 18 grandchildren and 47 great-grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his three brothers, Stayner W. Call, Wayne W. Call, Dale W. Call and their wives and sister Norma (Bob) Hastings.
Funeral Services will be held Saturday, March 14th, at 10:00 am, at the Windsor Stake Center, 60 East 1600 North, Orem, Utah, where Viewings will be held Friday, March 13th from 6:00 to 8:00 pm and prior to services on Saturday from 9:00 to 9:45 am. Interment with Military Honors in Afton City Cemetery at approximately 4:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Church Missionary Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.