The following obituaries appeared in the April 24, 2024 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.
Sandra Allen
Sandy Allen, was born in Sturgis, South Dakota on March 29, 1950 to Pat and Grayce Dunn. Sandy spent her childhood moving to various places and states for her dad’s work and many trips back home to South Dakota to visit family. Sandy had a very special bond with her cousins, as she was raised as an only child, and she kept close ties to all. She loved them deeply
She married Daniel Allen in a small intimate ceremony on November 4, 1974 and they built their home in the Basin, trying their hand at being business owners for a time.
They welcomed a baby girl in October 1978, to her tremendous joy, after being told she would never have children.
Sandy worked and managed the Yellow Front Store in Vernal until it closed down. After closing the store, she went back to school and completed her G.E.D.
They moved to Star Valley Wyoming and she began her career as a bank teller. There she was blessed with two grandchildren, whom she doted on.
Later, they established a home in Granger, Wyoming and she became Mayor for a time. She loved this challenge! And loved being surrounded by friends until the passing of her husband in 2019. She fell ill the next year and moved back to Vernal to be close to remaining family.
She passed peacefully at Ashley Regional Medical Center surrounded by family and caring attentive health care personnel, after finding out she was in acute renal failure and she was ready to be with her husband again.
Her laugh was distinctive and loud and will be missed by all those who were fortunate to share in the laughter. Her love of crochet, she shared with so many also, as she gave out blankets like candy.
Sandy is survived by her daughter, Seandara Draney, grandchildren; Patrick Draney, and Samara (Rylan) Palacios, and great grandchild, Carmen.
She is preceded in death by her beloved husband Daniel Allen, parents Pat and Grayce Dunn, siblings, Don Maas, Alma Mayes, and Mike Ragatz.
A Memorial Service will be held at a later date (TBD).
Please contact Seandara if you would like details when they become available.
Dee Call
Dee W. Call passed away on April 21, 2024 from natural causes. He was 84 years of age. Dee was born on May 30, 1939 to Evan Papworth Call and Bessie Warren Call in Afton, Wyoming. He was the third of fourteen children.
He was raised on a farm north of Afton where he learned the value of hard work and frugality, with an unwavering faith in God which he held dear throughout his life.
Dee graduated from Star Valley High School in 1957. He then served a mission in the Gulf States for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He attended Utah State University where he met his wife, Dianne Floyd of Providence, Utah. Their marriage was solemnized in the Logan Temple on November 2,1962. They were married for 49 years.
Dee and Dianne made their home in Star Valley where they raised six children, ran a family farm, and operated Call Ready Mix and Lumber for over 50 years.
Dee was known for his work ethic, compassion, positive attitude, honesty, and perseverance. He loved seeing the smiles and joy of others and wanted everyone to feel good after an interaction with him.
He served in many capacities in the church including Stake Missionary, Ward Mission Leader, High Priest Group Leader, Sunday School Teacher, Temple Worker, and Scoutmaster. Dee’s testimony of Jesus Christ was priceless to him. He loved sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with everyone that he met. The lessons he taught through the life he lived will be cherished by all those who knew him.
He is survived by his children, Dale Floyd Call (BethAnn), Joyce Kennington (Garry), Shirlene Law (David), James Evan Call (Sandy), Brian Dee Call (Danielle), DeeAnne Robinson (Marion – deceased), 23 grandchildren, 28 great grandchildren, siblings Kayland, Wynn, Louise, Ralph, Annie, Don, Jill, Lenna, Warren, Grace, and Ruth.
He was preceded in death by his wife Dianne, his parents, Jennie Partridge (sister), and Ben Warren Call (brother).
Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, April 17, 2024 at 11 a.m. in the Grover Ward chapel. A viewing will be held on Friday, April 16 from 6-8 p.m. at the Grover Ward building, and from 9-10:45 a.m. prior to the service at the church.
Helen V. Harker
Helen Veloy Harker was born in Idaho Falls, Idaho August 7, 1939 to Joseph Edmond Lovell and Verla Purser Lovell
She grew up In Ririe, Idaho, Dillon, Montana and Idaho Falls. Helen attended Riverside, O.E. Bell and Idaho Falls High schools.
She married Kent Browning Harker December 19, 1954 in Idaho Falls. They were blessed with four great kids, Roxanne Shull (Craig Shull), Gregory Kent Harker, Rochelle (Shelly) Higham (Paul Higham) and Ralene Harker ( Randall Dalton). Over the years they became grandparents to ten grand-kids and over 20 great grandkids and two great-great grandkids.
They spent much of their life in Idaho Falls where Helen worked for over thirty years in the grocery business. After Kent’s retirement they built a new home by themselves, with help from friends and family, in Star Valley Ranch, Wyoming and moved there in 1994.
Helen was an avid golfer, bowler and pool player. She played in many golf tournaments. She was the president of a ladies pool league in Idaho Falls. Helen and Kent ran a pool league at Star Valley Ranch for twelve years and she was the only woman who ever won an annual pool championship.
Helen taught herself to do machine knitting and over the years she made Christmas stockings for all of our family and many of our friends. One year she knit more than 100 stocking caps to give to a charity for children.
Helen will be fondly remembered for her bread, chocolate chip cookies, and Thousand Island salad dressing recipes. Her quick wit, loving, compassionate examples have influenced the family and others.
She is survived by her loving husband and a brother, Ed Lovell.
She was preceded in death by brothers Virgil and Artell Lovell and sister Loaine Larsen.
