Vern Vivion

Vern Vivion January 22, 1926 - May 6,2014 Vern Vivion, prominent Carbon County native and longtime rancher died May 6, 2014 in Casper, Wyoming. The son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles (Grace Murray) Vivion, Vern was President of Rocky Mountain Sheep Company, Leo Sheep Company, partner in the Clover Valley Ranch in Walden, Colorado, and President of Elk Mountain Safari, Inc. His passion for Wyoming's heritage and public service fueled a lifetime of diverse and impactful achievements. He served two terms in the Wyoming House of Representatives, was chairman of the Council of State Governments Western Division Agricultural Committee, served as chairman of the national committee to draft an interstate compact for the control of agricultural pests and diseases, was selected as Wyoming's representative to the Interstate Conference on Water Problems, and served as chairman of the Wyoming Council for Economic Development. Always committed to education, Vivion chaired the Wyoming Higher Education Council, was a member of the University of Wyoming Agricultural Advisory Committee, and chairman of the Governor's committee on Vocational-Technical education. As a lifetime advocate of the sheep industry, he was President of the Wyoming Wool Growers Association and two-term President of the National Woolgrowers Association, serving as an international ambassador and lobbyist for matters related to lamb and wool production. In the 1990's,Vivion added buffalo to his ranching operation and organized a five-day Native American Practicum bringing seventeen high school students representing various U.S. Indian Tribes to Saratoga to expose them to, and encourage the pursuit of, careers in wildlife and range management. He also sponsored a two-day Native American canoe race on the North Platte River which culminated in a traditional pow-wow at Fort Fred Steele, a historic site donated to the State of Wyoming by the Vivion family. Vern's service to the State of Wyoming, his commitment to its future, and reverence for its past, are but a few of the legacies of a life well- lived. In addition to his dedication to Wyoming and the agriculture industry, his greatest joy was his family. God blessed him with three daughters, and he instilled in them the value of hard work, his passion for civics and public service, and taught them to never give up, no matter the challenges they faced. His frequent counsel in the face of adversity, "Let us spread our wings like the great American eagle and let the storm carry us above the clouds". Vern graduated from Rawlins High School in 1944, where he excelled in athletics and was student body president. He attended the University of Wyoming where he was a member of the men's basketball team, graduating in 1948 with a degree in Journalism. He is survived by his wife Della (Maier), a native of Sheridan, daughters, Valri Vivon of Denver, Colorado, Kristin (William) Thompson of Casper, Wyoming, and Mary Vivion-Withrow (Bradley Withrow) of Mesa, Arizona; nine grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and his brother Dr. Charles (Betty) Vivion of Laramie. He was preceded in death by his brother Robert. A memorial service will be held at 1 :00 pm, Saturday, May 17, St Thomas Episcopal Church in Rawlins. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Young Farmer Rancher Program P. o. Box 1348 Laramie, WY 82073, the Cathedral Home for Children 4989 N. 3M Street, Laramie, WY 82072, or charities of your choice.