Obituaries

Steven Douglas Allen

Steven Douglas Allen

Steven Douglas Allen, 55, of Pinedale, passed away Thursday morning, March 12, 2009, from smoke inhalation in an accidental house fire.

Steven was born Oct. 24, 1953, in Boulder, Colo., to Glenn and Mary Jane Allen. He attended school in Boulder and finished his education in Arcadia, Calif. He was an avid fisherman and hunter and had a great love for the outdoors. He also enjoyed snowmobiling and mountain biking. His happiest times were when he would take pack trips into the Wind Rivers with his father and his friends.

Steven is survived by his father Glenn and stepmother Josefina Allen of Pinedale; sisters Deborah Ann Morgan and her children Sean and Stacey of San Bernardino, Calif.; and Sister Barbara E. Allen of Glendora, Calif.; Uncle James Allen and several cousins.

He is preceded in death by his mother Mary Jane (Pealer) Allen and brother-in-law James Morgan.

Funeral Services were held Wednesday, March 18, at 10 a.m. at Covill Funeral Home. Interment followed in the Pinedale Cemetery. Father Lucas Simango conducted the services.

Frances Ione (Ritzburg) McReynolds

Frances Ione (Ritzburg) McReynolds

“A Kindhearted Lady”

Ione McReynolds passed away on Saturday, March 14, 2009, at St. John’s Hospital in Jackson from complications of pneumonia. Her son Donley and his wife were at her side. She would have been 98 years old next month.

Ione was born in Minot, N.D., on April 9, 1911, to William and Abigail Ritzburg. She was raised and educated in Riverton, graduating from Riverton High School in 1929. It was there she met the love of her life, Pete McReynolds. They dated for eight years and decided to marry in 1933. That same year they purchased the Pinedale Roundup Newspaper and made their home in Pinedale.

Pete and Ione had two sons: Max, born in 1934, and Donley, born in 1937. The boys were raised fishing, hunting and working hard on the newspaper, as it truly was a family business for 17 years. The McReynolds sold the paper in 1950.

After the boys went off to college, Pete and Ione built a cabin on homesteaded land at New Fork Lake. They enjoyed observing the wildlife and watching the seasons change. They loved to entertain their many friends and family members there.

Throughout her life, Ione had a true passion for gardening. She won prizes at the Sublette County Fair for arrangements she designed. She was a Life Member of the Wyoming Federation of Garden Clubs and Pinedale’s Sage and Snow Garden Club. Her garden in Pinedale won the “Garden of Beauty” award so many times that Ione took it out of the running in order to give others a chance to win. Her delphiniums were legendary. Ione was still weeding her garden at age 93.

Always a lady of the finest measure, Ione strongly believed in donating to local charities and organizations. She was a member of the Eastern Star, O.E.S. Pinedale Chapter 39, for 73 years. She stopped attending when she could no longer climb the stairs to the meeting hall unassisted. She worshipped at St. Andrew’s in the Pines Episcopal Church.

Ione was preceded in death by her son Max and her husband Pete.

She is survived by her youngest son Donley and his wife (of California), five grandchildren and two great-grandsons. Also left behind are her devoted friends and neighbors, Karla Knopic and Jasper Warembourg, who lovingly watched over Ione in her declining years.

A graveside service was held on Tuesday, March 17, 2009, at the Pinedale Cemetery. There will be a memorial service and barbecue in July at Ione’s home where friends and family can celebrate her life in the garden she loved so much. An announcement will come later.

The family requests any memorials will be made in Ione’s honor to the charity of your choice.

Gayle Mills Nielsen

Gayle Mills Nielsen

Gayle Mills Nielsen, 87, of Pinedale, Wyoming passed away Monday afternoon March 9, 2009, at St. John’s Hospital in Jackson, with her family at her bedside. Gayle was born September 20, 1921 in Logan, Utah to Clarence and Mary Gladys Lindquist Mills. She completed her formal schooling in Logan and graduated from Logan High School in 1940. She married her sweetheart Melvin C. Nielsen on September 20, 1940 in the Logan, Utah L.D.S. Temple. Gayle and Melvin were blessed with a daughter Sandra their only child whom they loved and cherished.

Gayle enjoyed reading, camping, fishing, crocheting, and cooking. She worked for a time as manager of the Gold Strike Stamp Center. She was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She served as a Relief Society and Primary President, Junior Sunday School Coordinator, a counselor in the Young Women’s, and a visiting teacher. Later in life she had the opportunity to serve as a temple worker in the Logan Temple with her husband Melvin for nine years. It was a calling that was very dear to her heart.

Gayle is survived by her daughter Sandy (Tom) Blacker of Pinedale, WY; grandchildren Travis (Dana) Blacker of Rexburg, ID; Traci (Ernie) Maurino of Albuquerque, NM; Ty (Shandra) Blacker of Ucon, ID; Tory Blacker of Laramie, WY; Tiffany (Jeff) Gibbons of Rexburg, ID; and 11 great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her husband Melvin; her parents Clarence and Mary Mills; and her step-brother Don Ferguson.

Funeral services were held Friday March 13th at 11:00 a.m. at the Pinedale L.D.S. Church in Pinedale, WY. A graveside service was held the following day Saturday March 14th at 11:00 a.m. at the Logan City Cemetery in Logan, UT. Bishop Chris Nelson conducted the services.