Lael Eddins

Lael M. Eddins passed away on Dec. 2, 2011 at the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center after a lengthy illness. His funeral was held in the Afton Fourth Ward on Saturday, Dec. 10, with Bishop Mark Nethercott officiating.

Lael was born on Dec. 4, 1944 in Afton and was the third son of Lavell and Kathryn Mcneel Eddins.

Lael lived in Afton most of his life. He was the student body president and played on championship football and basketball teams for SVHS.

After graduation he served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Northern California Mission. He also attended Utah State University and BYU.

Lael and Sheila Robinson were married on Nov. 23, 1968 in Freedom. They have four children, Heather, Heath, Tyler, and Beau. The Family was sealed in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple on May 10, 1985.

Besides the two years that Lael worked for Worldwide Packaging in Virginia, he spent all of his adult life in Star Valley. He was a hunting guide, worked as a log loader and as a welder. He was the utilities commissioner for the City of Afton until his retirement and then served as an engineering consultant for Foreign Associates.

Lael was an avid outdoors man and hunter. As a bow hunter, he held the Pope and young Record for the largest typical mule deer in the State of Wyoming for 13 years. He served as president of the local chapter of the Ducks Unlimited Organization. He was an expert fisherman and outdoor photographer.

He befriended folks easily and had an enormous heart. Time in the outdoors with his family and friends were his favorite times.

Lael served his community as a member of the Afton Volunteer Fire Department.

He is survived by his wife Sheila, of Afton; his four children: Heather (Ashley) Brown, of Woodruff, Utah; Heath (Tara) Eddins, of LaBarge; Tyler (Christy) Eddins, of Afton; and Beau (Elle) Eddins, of Alpine; seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren; and two brothers, Neil (June) Eddins, of Star Valley Ranch; and Boyd (Jane) Eddins of Afton.

Lael is preceded in death by his father and mother. He is buried next to them in the Afton City Cemetery.