The following are obituaries and death notices that appeared in the April 16, 2009 edition of the Star Valley Independent.

Austin Heber Merritt was born on Jan. 31, 1922, the first son and eldest child of George Heber and Ethel Spackman Merritt. Austin was born at home in the town of Bedford. His parents homesteaded in Bedford and later Austin purchased property to the east of his parents place. Austin farmed and ranched until the place was sold to his son after his retirement.  Austin had two brothers and two sisters and together they had man happy times together. Austin attended the 1st through the 8th grade at the Bedford school and completed two years at Star Valley High School. Austin was needed at home to help on the ranch.  Austin was  life long member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Austin served as an Elder, Seventy and High Priest. Austin served both a Stake Mission and was a Stake Home Missionary during his early married years. Austin served as the Thayne 1st ward membership clerk, providing dedicated and unselfish service. Austin also served for many years as a Home Teacher and was the Bedford ward Young Men’s President for many years.  Austin grew into a strong, tall, hardworking man and enjoyed time with his friends and the dances in Star Valley. In the Spring of 1940, Austin noticed Dorthy and they enjoyed spending time together. On Sept. 1, 1941 they were married in the Salt Lake City Temple for time and all eternity. Five children joined the family, three sons and two daughters.  Austin worked very hard to provide a comfortable life for his wife and children. He worked full-time jobs at the Creamery and for the Lincoln County Road and Bridge Department. On April 29, 1988 Austin retired from the road and bridge as the Maintenance Foreman with 19 years and three months of service. Austin will be remembered for the countless early morning hours and evenings pushing snow to keep the roads open and clear for the school buses and folks traveling. He could fix anything. He owned and operated Merritt Repair for years and made house calls to diagnose and repair whatever it might be.  Austin enjoyed many things: horses, baseball, basketball, family, traveling, camping, hunting and most especially fishing. Ice, stream, or lake fishing was always on the agenda. Hunting was always a big affair too. As he grew older it became hard for him to go out hunting, so he would stay in camp, tend the fire and wait for the hunters to return. Austin encouraged safety and taught the Hunter Safety Course for several years. He loved music and sang in public with his sons a few times.  In later years Austin loved rounding up the cattle each Fall which continued until his health would no longer allow him to. His last trip up Greys River was on Father’s Day 2008.  Austin and Dorthy celebrated their 50th and 60th wedding anniversary. His wife passed away just one month shy of their 65th wedding anniversary. Austin’s health was not good and on Sept. 7, 2006 he moved into the Star Valley Care Center. It was a difficult time in his life. He did rally and spent his time playing games, teasing, joking and visiting with the residents.   Austin was preceded in death by his wife Dorthy, son Kendall, grandson Ken Merritt, granddaughter Billie Kay Merritt, great-grandson Ken Allen Hales and brothers Elmo and LaMar. He is survived by Kay Odean (Irene), Trudy Christena Karey and Sheldon (Diane), 17 grandchildren, 44 great-grandchildren,three great-great-grandchildren, sister Betty Hepworth (Oregon) and Naoma Eustace (Nevada), and two sisters-in-law Virginia Prince (Idaho) and Grace Ellen Merritt (Bedford).

Von N. Leavitt passed away on Sunday, March 15, 2009 at Scripps Memorial Hospital in Encinitas, Calif. He was surrounded by his loving wife and children.  Von was born in Star Valley on July 7, 1928 to Ira and Genevieve Nield Leavitt. He was the oldest of four boys and one girl.  Von grew up like most boys in Wyoming, farming and helping his family with milking and hauling hay as well as taking care of livestock. He spent time in the summer at sheep camps and on cattle round-ups. There were a few encounters with Blackfoot Indians. No wonder he loved John Wayne. He also loved to fish and hunt.  Von graduated in 1947 from Star Valley High School. He married the love of his life, LaRue Hillyard, that same year. They moved into a one bedroom house on a potato farm in Idaho Falls.  Later they moved to Salt Lake City where he learned the plastering business. They then moved to Las Vegas.  Von owned his own business, “Custom Plastering.”  He moved his family to Garden Grove, Calif and became employed with Sav-On Drugs, working there for 29 years. He worked his way up to store manager and retired from there in 1985. It was always one of the top stores and he had 56 employees.  He and LaRue moved to Oceanside, Calif., in 1989. This was after two, open-heart, by-pass surgeries.  Von was active in the LDS Church and fulfilled a mission in the Carlsbad Mission Office from 1996-1997. He held the office of High Priest at the time of his passing.  He loved his family and would do anything he could to help them and spend time with them. He would have six or seven grandkids in bed with him and share stores and songs. The grandkids loved it.  Von is survived by his devoted wife of 61 years, LaRue; sons, Brad (Tami) Leavitt; and Brett Leavitt; daughters, Pamela (Michael) Ford; Teri Leavitt (Steve); and Ronda (John) Truehitt; brothers, Kirk (Nancy) Leavitt; Brent (Annette) Leavitt; sister, Genell Luthi; 12 grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Rex Leavitt; son, Steven Leavitt; and granddaughter, Melanie Hart-Goode.  Funeral services were held Saturday, March 21, 2009 in Oceanside. Interment was at the Westminster Memorial Park.

On April 11, 2009, Reagan Lillie Crook returned to her Heavenly Father. She died peacefully at Primary Children’s Medical Center.  She was born July 26, 2006 to Shane and Michelle Crook of Freedom. She was very loving, and especially enjoyed her siblings, Ellie and Devin. Reagan was happy, active, and strong willed.  A viewing was held at Schwab Mortuary in Thayne on Wednesday, April 15 from 6-8 p.m. Another viewing will be held at the Freedom LDS church from 10-11:45 a.m. Thursday, April 16. The funeral will follow at noon.

Funeral services for Vernon Jenkins were held on Tuesday, April 14 at noon in the Freedom LDS Church.