Dea William Thayn

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WELLINGTON-Dea is not gone, he has just rode off into the sunset on his favorite horse Ole Bay Boy on Aug. 11, 2010.
He was born in Wellington, Utah to Azel and Inez Rich Thayn on May 20, 1925 and grew up in Clarks Valley (Kiz) and Coal Creek.
Dea married his sweetheart of 65 years, Colleen Lisonbee on June 22, 1945 in Wellington, Utah.
He was a sergeant in the US Army during World War II. In his early years he served as both police and fire chief for Wellington City. He worked numerous jobs as a truck driver, mechanic and on the Alaskan pipeline. Dea retired as the Carbon County Road Supervisor, but his greatest love was farming and playing with his horses. He was a director for the USWRCA for 46 years and judged the Days of ’47 All Horse Parade for many years. Dea was a founding member of the Wellington Mountaineers Riding Club and the voice everyone loved to hear at the Wellington 24th of July Rodeo for 57 years. He closed every rodeo by saying, “Drive safely, the life you save may be your own.”
Dea is survived by his loving wife, Colleen, three children, Dea Ray (Danielle) Thayn, Jana (Brett) Abrams and Debra (David) Cloward, all of Wellington; brother, Jess (Renee) Thayn and five sisters, Azella Bradley, Donna Oviatt, Connie Erickson, Eva (Max) Tucker and Ora Keele.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Lynn, Harold, George and Dell; sister, Ruth Nelsen; grandson, Joe Abrams and great-granddaughter, Kamdyn Cloward.
Funeral service, Saturday, Aug. 14, 2010, 1 p.m., Wellington LDS Stake Center. The family was at Mitchell Funeral Home (233 East Main Street) in Price Friday evening from 6-8 p.m. and at the Stake Center Saturday one hour prior to service. Interment, Wellington City Cemetery. Friends and family are welcome at Mitchell’s daily and may share memories of Dea at www.mitchellfuneralhome.net